Theme park gamification, guest tracking and access control system

ABSTRACT

A system for providing gamification of a destination such as a theme park where guests use a venue app with an optional electronic ticket that allows for both self-serve access into the destination and tracking of individual guests throughout various access points. An extended range ID such as an RFID is provided to the guest either in the electronic ticket or in a wearable. Using combinations of RFID readers, pressure sensors and cameras the system tracks guests down the ride seat and tracks the movements of guided, free-floating and free-ranging vehicles. Using the combination of guest and vehicle tracking information along with information provided by a destination gaming system, the destination guest experience is customized including various effects for rides and attractions. Spot cameras are placed at tracked locations such as rides seats, where images are captured in response to either external triggers generated by the system or guest indications.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. Non-Provisionalapplication Ser. No. 16/055,078 entitled THEME PARK GAMIFICATION, GUESTTRACKING AND ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM filed on Aug. 4, 2018. The parent andpresent application are a continuation-in-part of the U.S.Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 15/975,236 entitled INTERACTIVEOBJECT TRACKING MIRROR-DISPLAY AND ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM filed on May 9,2018. The parent and present application claim the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/541,328 filed on Aug. 4, 2017.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a physical-virtual theme park gamingexperience that relies at least in part upon guest tracking and providesnovel solutions for determining the location of guests as they enter thepark and other park areas such as ride lines, rides, shows, restaurants,shops, etc. The present invention teaches apparatus and methods fordetermining the individual seat a guest is occupying on a moving ride,including guided rides and free-floating rides. The tracking apparatusis also shown to support unmanned and secure venue and sub-venue accesscontrol.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are roughly 700 theme and amusement parks worldwide hosting justunder 1 billion visitors annually. The typical park provides an enclosedarea with a number of park vistas, rides, shows and restaurants, wherethe park vistas have a limited amount of interactivity and the rides andshows are a repeating unchanging experience. Some theme parks such asDisney World are offering limited guest tracking with some ability tohave individualized experiences.

What is needed is a guest tracking system that at least tracks guests todistinct physical park-interaction locations, such as ride lines, rides,shows, restaurants, shops, etc., where the tracking system detects andmaintains a database of each guest that is currently inside of a givenpark-interaction location. When the location is a ride, it is furtherdesirable to detect and determine what ride car, row and seat anindividual guest is sitting within, combined with the ongoing locationof the ride car as it is guided along the ride path and ultimately pastride special effects. When the ride is a free-floating ride, such as araft on a waterway, or free-ranging, such as a go cart on a race track,it is desirable to track the on-going location and orientation of theride craft or vehicle. Using the ride car, craft or vehicle informationin combination with the guest seat location provides significantopportunities for creating customized guest experiences, includingcontrolling or directing the output of a ride effect, where the effectsmay output light, sound, water, air, vibration, etc., and where the rideeffects may be fixed to a venue structure or asset, fixed to the venuestructure or asset but movable in one or more degrees of freedom, orfree-floating such as a radio controlled drone.

All theme parks prohibit a guest from carrying their cell phone at leaston fast moving rides prohibiting a guest from capturing self-images.What is needed is a system for allowing a guest to capture self-imageson moving rides. Theme parks do not currently provide means for allowingguests to play games while riding on the cars, crafts or vehicles, wherethe games include pressing buttons or other inputs in real-time, wherethe inputs are also usable along with the guest locations forcontrolling or directing the output of a ride effect.

Guests visiting theme parks also typically wait in several linesincluding at least the line to enter the park and lines for what areknown as “fast lanes,” where a typical ride has a “normal lane” than anyticket holder may enter which might have a 120-minute wait time, and afast lane that only premium ticket holders may enter which might have a20-minute wait time. When entering the park during busy times, guestsoften wait for 20-30 minutes to go through a manned ticket check wheremany parks are also requiring the guest to provide biometric informationsuch as a fingerprint to ensure that a single multi-day ticket is beinglimited to a single person. What is needed is a way for guests toregister their own tickets by at least associating their own biometricusing a venue app that remains private to the guest, whereupon pre-entryinto a park the guest uses their own cell phone to provide confirmationof their biometric. In such a system, the guests cell phone become anofficial entry checkpoint for the venue, while still providing guestinformation privacy. For parks that currently have manned checkpointsfor securing park fast lane entrance, the present invention offerssignificant labor-saving costs as guest use self-serve access pointsthat do not require individual staff to operate. While some parks havealready upgraded to unmanned “touch points” that allow a guest to scantheir ticket and touch their finger for biometric proof, these stationsare costly and are often still manned as the fingerprint readers can bedifficult for some guests to manage.

And lastly, families and large groups for example from a school, havethe additional concerns of lost and missing children. What is needed isa combined access control, guest tracking, gaming and lost guestservices platform, such as herein described.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimedsubject matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intendedto limit the scope of the disclosure, but rather these embodiments areintended only to provide a brief summary of disclosed invention. Indeed,the present disclosure may encompass a variety of forms that may besimilar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.

The present invention provides for a guest smart ticket that preferablyincludes close range data, such as the ticket number and status, andextended range data, such as a guest tracking number. The guestdownloads a venue app onto their cell phone prior to arriving at thepark. Using the venue app they scan the close range data using the cellphone's near field communications. Once their tickets numbers areuploaded into their venue app, the guest then provides their personalbiometric data, such as a finger print and/or facial image after whichthe venue app updates the smart ticket status to “registered.” This dataremains on their cell phone and private to them and is only shared underrare instances of identity conflicts. The venue app uses GPS todetermine its current location and restricts the guest from certainfunctions based upon their location. One key restricted function is thestep of confirmation, which can only happen after registration andwithin a bounded pre-area of the park, just before the park entrance.Guests enter the bounded pre-area by scanning their registered ticketsinto an unmanned access point. Once in the pre-area, the venue app willthen automatically allow the guest to use their own cell phone tore-enter biometric data. The venue app then self-confirms that thisre-entered biometric data matches the registration data and if so resetsthe status on the guest's smart ticket to “confirmed.” The guest maythen scan their confirmed ticket at a second unmanned access point toenter the park. The present invention shows that this same step of apre-area with confirmation is usable inside the park in any “sub-venue,”such as a fast lane or show where entrance is restricted based upon thetype of ticket purchased. Once inside the park, there are multiplechokepoints that include one or more extended range data readers such aRFID technology. As guests pass by any of the chokepoints, theirtracking number is detected and logged. The tracking number isoptionally associated with the ticket number and potential non-privateguest information such as age, sex, city, state, etc. The park benefitsfrom the real-time tracking database and analytics providing valuableinformation about all guests in any given park-interaction locations,such as ride lines, rides, shows, restaurants, shops, etc. Additionalteachings herein provide multiple solutions for then also determiningthe individual ride seat a given guest is occupying on any type ofguided, free-floating or free-ranging ride. Using this detailed trackinginformation, park assets such as ride effects are then programmed toalter their output based at least in part upon any of the guestinformation especially including tracking information. Guests benefit inmultiple ways from the present invention. The typical repeating parkexperiences become individualized, at a level controllable by the guest.For example, the guest may optionally provide a name to be associatedwith their tracking number such that park effects can speak their name.On select rides such as a free-floating water craft, guests can play aninteractive game as the ride automatically lights up seats predictingwhich guest is going to be doused with a water effect, and all guestscan choose by a button to increase or decrease the amount of water.Guests playing a parkwide game can build up points and credits that areusable for input into the park effect control algorithms, for example aguest with sufficient points can have a shield against the water effect,turning it around on the other guests in the craft, such that any guestwho voted to have extra water dumped will themselves be squirted by aride apparatus on the craft.

Optional camera apparatus usable on the rides for confirming seatoccupancy can also include a “selfie-button” allowing the guest tocapture self-images at any point along the ride, where proofs of theimages are then immediately transferred to the venue app for review,purchased and automatic social media posting after the present systemdetects that the guest has disembarked. Guests in groups such asfamilies with children can use a single cell phone to register andconfirm the entire family. Guests in groups such as from a school canassociate multiple cell phones and apps as a single group, where each ofthe multiple venue apps might for example control 5 tickets. All groupscan assign one or more guardians. Guardians can see in real-time whichpark interaction location any associated guest is within, or was lastwithin, and otherwise the last known chokepoint through which theassociated guest passed. Guardians can report any of their guests asmissing, immediately notifying park staff with all relevant data,include sending pre-captured pictures of the guest as stored on theguardian's cell phone and venue app. Any park staff or other guest thatthinks they see a missing guest can capture an image of that possiblymissing guest, where the image is immediately uploaded and using facialmeta data is compared to other facial meta data, such that all possibleguardians are immediately notified and asked to respond.

Given the state-of-the-art in printed electronics, RFID trackingsystems, pressure sensing materials such as conductive fabrics andplastics, software systems including mobile applications and symmetricalencryption, controllable output devices for causing various outputsincluding light, sound, air and water, etc., as well as the novel dualpublic-private image display technology described in the parent patentof which this application is a continuation-in-part, it is now possibleto achieve the many benefits described herein using the taught apparatusand methods.

The present invention is anticipated to offer significant benefitsbeyond theme and amusement parks, for example including museums,sporting and music venues, convention centers, air ports and even secureoffice buildings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a pictorial-component diagram showing a smart-ticket 2 and itsscanners including unmanned venue self-serve access point 5 a andunmanned venue chokepoint wireless reader 6. Smart-ticket 2 comprises atleast guest cell-phone and venue app 2 a combined with either or bothtraditional paper ticket 2 b or electronic ticket 2 c. Paper ticket 2 bcomprises venue/event identification information 2 b-1 and guestidentification information 2 b-2. Electronic ticket 2 c comprisesclose-range readable authentication code, ticket number and trackingnumber 2 c-1, close-range readable memory with ticket status 2 c-2 andoptional extended range readable tracking number 2 c-3, where optionaltracking number 2 c-3 can alternatively be implemented in a wearable,such as anklet 16. Also shown is manned venue serve access point 5 b forat least using the smart-ticket 2 to permit venue access.

FIG. 2 is an entity-data diagram depicting the main data storagecomponents of preferred system 100 including: venue database 40 a, guestcell phone and venue app 2 a, electronic ticket 2 c and photo-videorepository 40 b. Also shown are unmanned venue self-serve access point 5a, unmanned venue chokepoint wireless reader 6 and spot tracking andphoto system 60. Each of venue database 40 a, guest phone and app 2 aand electronic ticket 2 c hold and exchange critical information to thecycling of the ticket statuses.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial-block diagram showing a progression of spatialzones within which the guest operates cell phone and venue app 2 a incombination with at least electronic ticket 2 c and optionally paperticket 2 b. The spatial zones include: ZONE1 71 where guests completesmart-ticket registration, ZONE2 72 where guests scan theirsmart-ticket(s) 2 c with their phone and app 2 a to enable the ticket 2c for use with a venue self-serve access point 5 a-1, ZONE 3 73 whereguests enter biometric data such as their fingerprint or facial imageinto cell phone and app 2 a to confirm their smart-ticket(s) 2 c priorto entering the venue, and ZONE4 74 which is the venue that guests enterby scanning their confirmed smart-ticket 2 c into a self-service accesspoint 5 a-3 changing their smart-ticket 2 c status to active. Also shownare self-serve access points 5 a-2 and 5 a-4 though which guests mayexit ZONE3 73 or ZONE4 74 respectively, resetting their smart-ticketstatus to registered.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the progression of various smart ticket 2implementations through the herein taught four ZONES: ZN1, ZN2, ZN3,ZN4. The progression flow is bottom-to-top and compares: (A) AllTickets, (B) Virtual Tickets comprising only cell phone and venue app 2a, (C) Paper Tickets comprising cell phone and venue app 2 a combinedwith paper ticket 2 b, (D) Close-Range E-Ticket comprising cell phoneand venue app 2 a combined with electronic ticket 2 c readable at closeranges for example using near-field communications, and (E) ExtendedRanges E-Ticket comprising cell phone and venue app 2 a combined withelectronic ticket 2 c readable at extended ranges for example usingRFID.

FIG. 5a depicts the PRIOR ART including an exciter mat 12 for emittingan electro-magnetic field that energizes a unique passive RFID withinwearable 16, where the energizing results in reflections or “chirps”emitted by the passive RFID and received and decoded by the radioreceiver 18 a. The PRIOR ART allows individuals to be uniquelyidentified as they walk over mat 12.

FIG. 5b depicts a preferred adaptation of the PRIOR ART thatadditionally includes a pressure sensing mat 14 in combination withexciter mat 12 forming combined pressure sensor and exciter 20, wherethe combination of pressure data and RFID chirps emitted by wearable 16are received, decoded and processing by radio receiver and pressuresignal detector 18 b.

FIG. 6a depicts a single seat 50 a that comprises combined pressure andsensor mat 20 placed upon the floor area just outside the seat areawhere a guest is expected to stand just prior to occupying the seat 50a, where mat 20 in combination with detectors 18 b-1 and 18 b-2 serve todetect the unique ID of wearable 16 as well as the location of guest 1in front of the seat. Seat 50 a also comprises seat pressure sensor 14-1and back rest pressure sensor 14-2, each capable of detecting guest 1presence by way of pressure.

FIG. 6b depicts a bench seat 50 b that like seat 50 a comprises acombined mat 20 a placed on the floor and a pressure sensor 15 placedupon the bench seat. Combined mat 20 a, like pressure sensor 15, isdepicted as comprising a multiplicity of independent sub-areas such as14-3-1, each for independently detecting pressure. Detectors 18 b-1 and18 b-2 serve to detect each of multiple guests 1 both entering andexiting bench seat 50 b, where the final bench seat occupation of ridecar 50 b is determinable using any of pressure sensors with mat 20 or15.

FIG. 7a depicts ride car with bench seat 50 b such as found on a themepark ride where the car 50 b is controllably transported on a guidedrail system, and where position sensor 52 is capable of determining thecurrent location of ride car 50 b upon the guided rail system. Ride car50 b is further adapted to include one or more cameras 54 for imagingeither or both the seat 50 b for detecting the presence of a guest 1, orthe guest 1 occupying the seat. Also depicted is positioned, timedspecial effect 56 a, where effect 56 a is alterable according todetected guest 1 information, and where cameras 54 capture images timedwith special effects 56 a.

FIG. 7b depicts free-floating ride car 50 c such as a water raft foundat a theme park where car 50 c floats freely within a confined waterway,and where a multiplicity of camera such as 55-1, 55-2, 55-3 track thelocation and orientation of car 50 c as it floats down the waterway. Animaging system receiving images from cameras such as 55-1, 55-2 and 55-3determines the location and orientation of ride car 50 c through thecombination of the pre-known and calibrated location of each camera withrespect to the waterway, as well as the pre-known relationships betweennatural fiducials and landmarks on ride car 50 c, or applied markers 50c-m. Combination mat 20, seat sensor 14-1 and detectors 18 b serve todetermine the unique seating position of each guest 1 within ride car 50c. The combination of the determined location and orientation of ridecar 50 c within the waterway, along with the determination of theseating location of guest 1 within ride car 50 c, allow for theprediction of interface moments between guests 1 and positioned un-timedspecial effects 56 b, where the moments of interface can be imaged bycameras 54.

FIG. 8a depicts the serial car loading of a ride car 50 d, where amultiplicity of guests such as 1 a, 1 b and is pass through exciterfield 20 ef emitted by combination mat 20, such that the identificationof each guest is determined in entry sequence by detector 18 b. Ride car50 d is shown with multiple means for identifying which guest 1 occupieseach of SEATS 01, 02, 03 and 04 as for example, where multiple meansincludes seat pressure sensors 14-1 and cameras 54.

FIG. 8b depicts the parallel car loading of a ride car 50 e, where amultiplicity of guests such as 1 a, 1 b and 1 c pass through exciterfield 20 ef emitted by combination mat 20, such that the identificationof each guest is determined in entry sequence by detector 18 b. Ride car50 e is shown with multiple means for identifying which guest 1 occupieseach of SEATS 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 and 06 as for example, where multiplemeans includes seat pressure sensors 14-1, floor pressure sensor 14 andcameras 54.

FIG. 8c is a flowchart reviewing the steps for determining the uniqueride car seat occupancy based upon either the use of cameras versuspressure or contact sensors, and for the use of pressure or contactsensors the determination based upon guests 1 boarding in serial or inparallel.

FIG. 9 depicts the use of the present teachings in a convention allsetting, where an attendee 1 goes through a sequence of steps A, B, C, Dand E to acquire a ticket, self-register, confirm their ticket andidentity, enter a restricted area and have their location monitored bypressure sensor 14 as they walk about a specific area, such as a tradeshow booth. Also depicted is employee 1 e wearing unique resonance coils15 c for remote detection by resonance detection matric 15.

FIG. 10 depicts an alternate implementation for controlling unmannedsecured guest 1 access into a venue providing a higher level of securitythan implemented especially in reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The use ofZONEs 1, 2, 3 and 4 remains as originally taught, where guest 1 is nowadditionally required to provide at least facial images, and notnecessarily finger prints, within both ZONE1 for ticket registration andwithin ZONE3 for venue access confirmation. Venue access confirmationincludes real-time communication of at least facial meta-data to a venueaccess management system providing algorithms facial matching todetermine if the guest 1 in ZONE3 requesting access into ZONE4 (thevenue) has already been prior recognized as being confirmed and possiblyalready located within ZONE4. If the automatic verification of facialmetadata determines a possible match for guest 1, were the possiblematch is already confirmed, then at least the facial images of guest 1along with those of the possible match(es) are immediately presented toa venue agent for human evaluation and confirmation, providing thehighest levels of security by combining stringent algorithmic matchingcombined with human evaluation to adjudicate possible access conflicts.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth,such as examples of specific components, types of usage scenarios, etc.in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure.It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the presentdisclosure may be practiced without these specific details and withalternative implementations, some of which are also described herein. Inother instances, well known components or methods have not beendescribed in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presentdisclosure. Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary.The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to bewithin the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a pictorial-component diagram of asmart-ticket 2 for use by a guest 1 (not depicted until FIG. 2) of avenue to achieve self-serve access to a secured venue premise.Smart-ticket 2 minimally comprises cell phone and venue app 2 a, withalternates comprising device 2 a in combination with either or both oftraditional paper ticket 2 b or electronic ticket 2 c. The preferredembodiment is a combined ticket that includes both traditional paper 2 band electronics 2 c. While cell phone and app 2 a in combination withelectronic ticket 2 c is the main focus especially of upcoming FIG. 2and FIG. 3, the additional value of combining paper ticket 2 b will bewell understood by those skilled in the art of venue access management,as it offers valuable information to the guest 1 and provides value toseveral traditional guest services including venue assisted venue accessand ticket replacement. Furthermore, especially with respect to upcomingFIG. 4, the present inventor will describe an alternative implementationof smart-ticket 2 that comprises only cell and app 2 a combined withpaper ticket 2 b and not including electronic ticket 2 c. Thiscombination of 2 a and 2 b will also be shown to allow for guest 1self-serve access to a secure venue. All combinations of ticketcomponents 2 a, 2 b and 2 c for forming smart-ticket 2 have significantvalue, where the combinations include: 2 a combined with 2 b, 2 acombined with 2 c, as well as 2 a combined with 2 b and 2 c, and allcombinations are considered to fall within the scope of the presentinvention.

Still referring to FIG. 1, as will be well understood by those skilledin the art of printed electronics, devices comprising circuits,antennas, memories, sensors, batteries, etc. traditionally implementedon silicon are now commercially available or soon to be available aselectrical components printed onto various often flexible substratesusing common printing equipment and processes including screen printing,flexography, gravure, offset lithography and inkjet. There are manycommercial vendors supplying printed electronics including ThinFilmElectronics ASA with headquarters in Norway. ThinFilm's printedelectronics include tags and labels that include memory, sensors,displays, and wireless communications. ThinFilms choice of wirelesscommunications circuitry is Near Field Communications, or NFC, whichtypically exchanges information at ranges of sub-two inches. Thisclose-range has advantages including lower transmission powers andincreased security, all as is well known in the art. Specifically, thepresent invention prefers what ThinFilm refers to as its “NFC barcode,”which is a barcode encoding readout using a wireless nearfieldcommunication signal supplied by a reading device, such as a self-serveaccess points 5 a or cell phone and venue app 2 a, both to be discussedherein. A significant advantage of the ThinFilm solution is that theresulting printed electronics are passive, drawing upon the powerprovided by the NFC signal emitted by the reader. As is well known inthe art of venue access management, passive tickets are preferred formany reasons including that they will never run out of power, tend to besmaller/thinner, and are also typically lower in cost. For example, theThin Film smart labels (akin to a ticket) are anticipated to beavailable at costs of around $0.05.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the cell phone of cell phone and app 2 a ispresumed to belong to the guest 1, where the guest 1 has downloaded avenue app onto their cell phone to form 2 a. Traditional paper ticket 2b is well-known to comprise at least venue/event identificationinformation 2 b-1 as well as guest identification information 2 b-2. Thepresent inventor prefers that venue/event identification information 2b-1 additionally include an authentication code, that may for exampletake the form of a 2-D bar code such as a QR code, representative of thevenue/event. As will be discussed especially in relation to upcomingFIGS. 2 and 3, this printed authentication code can then have aproprietary algorithmic relationship to a second authentication codeembedded along with the ticket number within close-range readableID/ticket number data 2 c-1, such that the two authentication codes arecomparable for authenticating the ticket: 1) by and for the purchaserusing cell phone and venue app 2 a upon receiving their combinationpaper ticket 2 b and electronic ticket 2 c, and 2) by and for the venueor event management using access points 5 a or 5 b at the venue/event.As will be well understood by those familiar with anti-counterfeitmeasures, companies such as Hewlett Packard offer a global productauthentication service, whereby at least the printed authentication codeis validated via a cloud-based service accessed by either thepurchaser/guest 1 using cell phone and venue app 2 a or the venue/eventmanagement using access points 5 a or 5 b with sufficient connection tothe internet, such that the ticket is instantly verified. As will alsobe well understood by those familiar with venue and event management,traditional paper ticket 2 b is sufficient for providing the guest 1with access to a venue/event via a manned venue service access point 5b.

Still referring to FIG. 1, electronic ticket 2 c preferably includesclose-range readable authentication code, ticket number and trackingnumber, 2 c-1 as well as close-range readable memory 2 c-2, where memory2 c-2 is used to at least hold the status of smart-ticket 2, all as willbe discussed in greater detail especially in relation to upcoming FIG.2. As prior mentioned, a close range is roughly 1.6″ when using a readertechnology such as NFC that is commonly available in most smart phonesin today's marketplace. Electronic ticket 2 c optionally includesextended range readable ID/tracking number 2 c-3, which is preferablyimplemented as a passive RFID. As will be well understood by thosefamiliar with RFID technology, passive UHF (ultra high frequency) RFIDtags can be read at distances ranging from 3 feet (for “Gen1” tags) upto 37 feet (for “Gen2” tags) using currently available technologyimplemented as unmanned venue chokepoint wireless reader 6. As will bediscussed especially with respect to upcoming FIGS. 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7aand 7b , if the venue is for example a theme park or amusement park, thepresent inventor prefers that extended range readable datum 2 c-3 isimplemented as a separate wearable, such as anklet with passive RFID 16,as opposed to being implemented as a part of electronic ticket 2 c. Aswill be well understood by those familiar with wireless reading ofinformation, the preferred close-range NFC and extended range RFID arenot mandatory as other technologies exist and are also anticipated to bedeveloped in the future.

What is most important is that one or more technologies are implementedfor close-range and extended-range reading, where the preferred featuresof the close-range reader technology are: 1) either active or(preferably) passive reading of digital information at short ranges thatare essentially within the near proximity and therefore awareness ofguest 1, e.g. less than 6 inches, 2) the ability to secure the read data2 c-1 and 2 c-2 using protocols sufficient for, and commensurate with,the particular implementation of the smart-ticket 2, and 3) that it is atechnology either commonly available in cell phones or easily adapted toa commonly available cell phone, and where the preferred features of theextended-range reader technology are: 1) either active or (preferably)passive reading of digital information at extended ranges that areessentially outside the near proximity and therefore awareness of guest1, e.g. 3 feet and more, and 2) the ability to secure the read data 2c-1 and 2 c-2 using protocols sufficient for, and commensurate with, theparticular implementation of the smart-ticket 2. As will also beunderstood, much of the information being accessed or processed bysmart-ticket 2 is personal and sensitive and as such all availablepercussions should be implemented to ensure privacy. Although some dataprivacy concerns are directly addressed by the present teachings, thescope of the current patent is meant to encompass any of the variousdata encryption technologies that are either currently available or willbecome available.

Referring next to FIG. 2, there is shown an entity-data diagramdepicting the main data storage components of preferred system 100including: venue database 40 a, guest cell phone and venue app 2 a,electronic ticket 2 c and photo-video repository 40 b, where phone andapp 2 a along with electronic ticket 2 c form a preferred minimumsmart-ticket 2 as prior discussed in relation to FIG. 1. With respect tovenue database 40 a, critical preferred data includes: 1) purchaser infosuch as name, billing information, payment information, etc., where thepurchaser is anticipated but not required to also be a guest 1, 2)unique app ID that is assigned to the purchaser for ultimately using oncell phone and venue app 2 a, the use including matching the venue appdownloaded onto the guest 1's cell phone 2 a with one or more purchasedticket numbers, 3) an authentication code for use in verifying that theelectronic ticket is not a forgery, 4) biometric ID type, such as“Fingerprint,” or “Face,” for defining zero or more biometric datum foruse especially when confirming guest 1 identity, where biometric data atleast includes any one of, or any combination of: fingerprints, facialimages, voice prints, retinal scans, etc., 5) unique ticket number(s) orequivalent for identifying one or more purchased ticket(s) for use byone or more guest(s) 1 along with optional unique tracking number(s) orequivalent for tracking the movements of the one or more guest(s) 1, 6)ticket status(s) for representing the status of each of the one or moreticket(s), 7) tracking log(s) for representing the status changes andvenue related movements of the one or more guest(s) 1 associated withthe ticket(s), where the venue related movements at least include thedetection of the guest(s) l's tracking number either passing through: a)any manned or unmanned access point 5 a or 5 b, b) any unmannedchokepoint wireless reader 6, c) any venue spots as detected by spottracking system 60, and d) any location passed through or occupied by aguest 1 as detected by any apparatus, method or equivalents as hereindescribed, and 8) any of optional analytics info especially forassociating with the tracking log of each one or more guest(s) 1, whereanalytics info pertain to the guest 1 associated with a given ticketnumber, tracking number or combination thereof, and includes for exampleany information about the guest but preferably quasi-personalinformation such as age, sex, city, state, etc. that may be useful fordetermining important metrics and marketplace assessments for thevenue/event management without compromising individual identity.

Still referring to FIG. 2, with respect to guest cell phone and venueapp 2 a, critical preferred data includes: 1) purchaser info such asname, billing information, payment information, etc., minimized to theextent that if the purchaser is not also the guest 1 with cell phone 2a, then purchaser info may alternately include nothing or simply a nameand/or a transaction number useful for communicating with the venue, 2)a unique app ID that is used by the venue for uniquely matching thevenue app downloaded onto the guest 1's cell phone 2 a with one or morepurchased ticket number(s), where the guest 1 owning cell phone 2 a isanticipated but not required to also be the purchaser, 3) unique ticketnumber(s) or equivalent for identifying one or more ticket(s) for use byone or more guest(s) 1, 4) ticket status(s) for representing the statusof each of the one or more ticket(s), 5) guest name(s) for associatingwith the one or more ticket(s), 6) biometric ID type, such as“Fingerprint,” or “Face” required by the venue for confirming guest 1identity, 7) biometric data including any data sensed, captured, enteredor otherwise input by cell phone 2 a for the confirmation of guest(s) 1in accordance with the venue chosen biometric ID type, 8) guestanalytics information including for example any information about theguest but preferably quasi-personal information such as age, sex, city,state, etc. that may be useful for any of: a) determining importantmetrics and marketplace assessments for the venue/event managementwithout compromising individual identity, or b) at least in part causinga venue apparatus to adjust its output or timing, and 9) (shown at thetop of 2 a) photos and videos captured by the guest 1 using the venueapp 2 a that engages the cell phone's camera.

Still referring to FIG. 2, with respect to electronic ticket 2 cclose-range data, for read-only data 2 c-1 the critical preferred dataincludes: 1) the venue/event authentication code or equivalent, 2) theunique ticket number or equivalent, and 3) the unique tracking number orequivalent, and for read-write data 2 c-2, critical preferred dataincludes: 4) a ticket status for representing the process flow state ofthe ticket. With respect to electronic ticket 2 c extended range data 2c-3, critical preferred data includes: 1) the unique tracking number orequivalent. As prior mentioned, extended range data may optionally beincluded within wearable 16 as opposed to electronic ticket 2 c. Andfinally, with respect to photo-video repository 40 b, this optional datastorage component preferably maintains one or more photos or videos inassociation with at least the tracking number, where the tracking numbermatches a tracking number as found in venue database 40 a associatedwith a ticket number, and where photos and videos are eitherautomatically captured of guest 1 by spot tracking and photo system 60or self-captured by guest 1 using cell phone and venue app 2 a (dataconnection not depicted for simplicity and clarity reasons.) Spottracking and photo system 60 will be discussed in greater detail withrespect to upcoming FIGS. 7a, 7b, 8a and 8b , where the purpose ofsystem 60 is to automatically determine the real-time location of aguest 1 within a limited spatial domain, within a venue, and then toalso automatically photo/video guest 1 at one or more selected locationswithin the limited spatial domain, where for example the venue is atheme park and the limited spatial domain is a ride, ride line, publicarea of the park, etc. As guests 1 traverse the property of a venue,within which multiple limited spatial domains are available for entranceand exit, the present invention anticipates that at least these sameentrances and preferably also exists will include unmanned wirelessreaders 6 for detecting extended range 2 c-2 tracking numbers andtransmitting associated information, including location, date and timeof detection, to database 40 a for logging of the associated guest 1movements. The same associated information is anticipated as useful tothe spot tracking and photo systems 60 for triggering functions, all asto be taught especially with respect to upcoming FIGS. 8a and 8 b.

It is further anticipated that photo-video repository 40 b is madecontinuously available to guest(s) 1 at least using cell phone and venueapp 2 a (e.g. database 40 b is accessible from device 2 a by selecting aguest name which is translated to the associated tracking number andthen used to query database 40 b, as will be well understood by thosefamiliar with software systems) and preferably also using other forms ofinternet access including web pages and social media, wherenotifications are also sent to guest(s) 1 via device 2 a, preferablytriggered by detection of their current location within the venue, forexample by detection of a guest(s) l's tracking numbers by extendedrange readers 6 as the guest(s) 1 are leaving a limited spatial domain,or the detection of the guests tracking number (in close-range data 2c-1) as they leave the venue though access points 5 a-4 (see upcomingFIG. 3.) It is further anticipated that venue app 2 a will allowguest(s) 1 to: 1) make decisions as to which photos and video to keepwithin or delete from database 40 b, and 2) provide additional guestsocial media related information allowing accompanying venue or eventmanagement processing systems to further automatically disperse some orall of photos and videos under restrictions and limitations managed bythe guest(s) 1, where restrictions and limitations at least includewhich social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, email,text-message, Instagram, etc. are to be posted with photos and videos,and/or which related-individuals are to be contacted (e.g. by email ortext-message) with attached photos and videos.

Still referring to FIG. 2, it is also anticipated that the venue orevent management will update photo-video repository 40 b directly, orfurther associate with the tracking number found in repository 40 bother relevant venue/event photos and videos related to the on-goingexperiences of guest(s) 1, where further associating will be wellunderstood by those familiar with table-joins and other databaserelational techniques. For instance, when system 100 is used for aconvention, examples of relevant photos and videos include guestspeakers giving presentations to either the general audience or withinexclusive convention areas being monitored by the system 100, where theguest(s) 1 presence has been detected in proximity with and during therelevant presentation. The present inventor further anticipates thatsystem 100 will notify the guest 1 as they are detected leaving arelevant presentation area, either during or after the presentation hascompleted, where the notification comes to guest's cell phone and venueapp 2 a and the guest 1 uses venue app 2 a to accept/reject the relevantphoto or video. When system 100 is used at a theme park, examples ofrelevant photos and videos include: 1) themed characters speakinggreetings or messages to a guest 1 using the name of the guest and/orother related guest information known to system 100, where the themedcharacters are related to venue locations and events were the guest(s) 1were determined to have been present via the ticket (tracking) log, 2)venue presentations such as shows, parades, fireworks, etc. were theguest(s) 1 were determined to have been present via the ticket(tracking) log, or 3) promotional materials related to venue experiencessuch as rides, specific locations or buildings, restaurants, etc. werethe guest(s) 1 were determined to have been present via the ticket(tracking) log.

Still referring to FIG. 2, there is an assumed and preferred set oftransactions with a resulting flow of datum between venue database 40 a,guest cell phone and venue app 2 a and electronic ticket 2 c. Theinitial transaction is a purchase of tickets by a purchaser. As is wellknown, such purchases are typically accomplished using a web-browserinterface offered by the venue, or through a venue app downloaded by thepurchaser to a mobile device, such as a cell phone. Regardless, what isimportant is that a purchaser acquire the rights to one or more ticketsto a venue, venue event, conference, etc. of any type, and that thesetickets have unique identifiers typically issued by the venue, or thosemanaging the venue, venue event, conference, etc. While not mandatory,the present inventor prefers that prior to issuing ticket numbers, thevenue or ticket issuer first assigns a unique app ID to the purchase. Asis well known in cryptography and information systems, it is possible touse the unique app ID as a symmetric encryption key or similar forencrypting the assigned ticket numbers, digitally binding unique ticketnumber(s) to the unique app ID. This would be compared to a traditionaltechnique of a ticket issuer simply numbering their tickets sequentiallywithout any encryption or encoding. While the latter traditionaltechnique is acceptable for the present invention in that thesesequential ticket number(s) may then be associated with the unique appID assigned to the purchase, it is again preferred that ticket numbersare encrypted and therefore more difficult to digitally forge.

Once the venue or purchase agent has completed the initial transactionwith a purchaser, they will have minimally: (1) received purchaser infofor storage in database 40 a, (2) generated a unique App ID for storagein database 40 a and transmission to cell phone and venue app 2 a, (2)assigned zero or more preferred biometric ID types (such as“Fingerprint” or “Face”) for storage in database 40 a and transmissionto cell phone and venue app 2 a, and (3) issued one or more papertickets 2 b or electronic tickets 2 c for the purchaser, where eachpaper ticket 2 b and electronic ticket 2 c includes: a) close-rangeread-only data such as 2 c-1 comprising an authentication codeassociated with a ticket number and optionally a tracking number, whereelectronic ticket 2 c further includes: b) close-range read-write data 2c-3 comprising a ticket status preferably set to “ISSUED” or someequivalent, and where paper ticket 2 b and electronic ticket 2 c furtherincludes: c) optional extended range read-only data such as 2 c-3comprising preferably the same tracking number as in data 2 c-1, wheredata 2 c-3 may alternatively be provided by the venue in the form of awearable 16. The preferred embodiment of the present inventionanticipates that for each ticket purchased, one physical electronicticket 2 c will be generated and transferred to the purchaser, alongwith one or more optional wearables 16.

As will be clear from a careful reading of the present invention, thereare many novel and useful features described herein, some of which maybe excluded or included without detracting from the novelty andusefulness of other features of the present invention. One such exampleis the tracking number embedded within both extended range data 2 c-3(or wearable 16) and close-range data 2 c-1.

As prior mentioned and to be discussed in further detail with respect tothe remainder of the present invention, a tracking number especiallywhen readable at extended ranges is extremely useful for tracking themovements of a guest 1 within a venue. For venues including theme parksand amusement parks, there is a substantial need for this trackinginformation. However, for some types of venues/events, this guest 1tracking information may be less useful, undesirable to the guest, tooexpensive to collect (e.g. by installing venue chokepoint wirelessreaders 6 or equivalent) or otherwise not acceptable. As such, theimplementation of electronic ticket 2 c may exclude a tracking number,whether in the form of 2 c-3 or 16 (and then duplicated in 2 c-1.) Asthe careful reader will see, even when the tracking number is excludedfrom ticket 2 c, significant benefits remain to the self-serve venueaccess herein taught especially in relation to FIGS. 2, 3 and 10 that isfully accomplished using only close-range data 2 c-1 (without a trackingnumber included) and close-range data 2 c-2. Therefore, the inclusion orexclusion of a tracking number (and likewise extended range data) shouldbe considered as exemplary rather than a limitation of the presentinvention. It should also be understood that if a purchaser is buyingmultiple tickets, not only is there no requirement that any given ticketinclude a tracking number, some tickets can include tracking numberswhile others exclude tracking numbers. Furthermore, for those includingtracking numbers, there is no requirement that each ticket choose thesame physical form, for instance 2 c-3 versus 16. Even within wearable16, the present inventor anticipates multiple sub-forms includinganklets (as preferred and shown within) to wristbands, lanyards,necklaces, clothing pins, hats, etc.

Still referring to FIG. 2, subsequent to the purchase transactionconducted between the venue or its agent and the purchaser, where thetransaction results in the flow of information (1), (2) and (3), it isassumed that a guest 1 being either the purchaser or recipient of thepurchase either has already or does now download the venue's app ontotheir cell phone forming guest cell phone and venue app 2 a. As is wellunderstood by those skilled in the art of mobile software development,there are many ways for implementing the venue app, all of which aresufficient for the present invention. Some implementations include anembedded application (such a typically downloaded from an app store) oras a web-page (provided by the venue or venue representation) run on abrowser found on the cell phone 2 a. Furthermore, as will be obvious tothose skilled in the art of mobile technology, the mobile device doesnot need to be a cell phone, but rather could also be a tablet or in thefuture some other category of mobile device such as a cross-over sizethat is in between a traditional cell phone and tablet, often referredto as a “phablet.”

What is important is that the device running the venue app is portableallowing guest 1 to conduct transactions as herein taught both outsideof, approaching and inside of the venue (or equivalent.) It is alsoimportant that this mobile device be capable of presenting a userinterface to the guest 1 and also accepting any biometric data types(such as a fingerprint or facial image) required by the venue. Themobile device should also be capable of close-range data exchange, suchas through near field communications and preferably includes GPS (globalpositioning system) tracking and/or some means for operating within analternative LPS (local positioning system) tracking such as a WPS (wi-fipositioning system.) Such devices are also referred to as smart phones,where the present invention's use of the word cell phone is alsoconsidered interchangeable with smart phone.

While the present invention refers to a “venue app,” it should be wellunderstood that the app itself may be provided from any source and assuch what is most important is that the app conducts the functionsherein described, not that the app actually is made by, delivered by,maintained by, etc. the venue itself. And finally, with respect to thedownloaded app and associated unique app ID, the present inventorprefers that the download of the app be performed after the purchase iscomplete and the associated unique app ID is generated by the venue (oralternatively the provider of the venue app.) As will be understood bythose familiar with transaction security, ideally the app ID is embeddedwithin the download and in that sense completely transparent to theguest 1 or “downloader.” Keeping the unique ID as secret as possible,and then also preferably using the app ID as a key for generating unique(encrypted) ticket number(s), all increases the difficulty for anyoneattempting to steal, copy or otherwise gain unauthorized access to atleast the ticket number(s). However, it is also possible that thepurchaser and/or guest 1 has already downloaded the venue app onto theirmobile device 2 a, and that the unique app ID is then transferredseparately in any number of ways, for example: 1) by sending a code viaemail or text message, 2) by displaying a code on a purchase site fordirect entry into the venue app, or 3) by electronically transmittingthe code without display directly from the system managing the venuedatabase (or equivalent) to the venue app, such that the guest 1 isunaware of the unique app ID. Once this venue app is download andinstalled on the guest 1 mobile device such as cell phone 2 a, theunique app ID and biometric ID type(s) are assumed to also have beentransmitted and made available to phone and venue app 2 a.

Still referring to FIG. 2, subsequent to the download of the venue apponto the guest 1's mobile device, it is anticipated that guest 1 willreceive one electronic ticket 2 c (optionally and preferably includingprinted ticket information 2 b) for each purchased ticket, wherereceiving includes picking up from the venue or its agent, or beingdelivered the ticket(s) using some delivery method such as USPO mailing,UPS, etc. It is also assumed that if extended range data was a part ofthe transacted ticket purchase, this is also received by the guest 1,again in any form including 2 c-3 or 16. Once electronic ticket(s) arereceived, guest 1 is responsible for registering each ticket using cellphone and venue app 2 a. For each purchased and received ticket, theprocess of registration minimally includes: 1) presenting electronicticket 2 c within close-range of venue app running on cell phone 2 a,such that the venue app uses a close-range reader technology such asnear field communication (NFC) to read at least the unique ticket number(or equivalent ID) off close-range data 2 c-1, preferably also theticket status off of the electronic ticket close-range data 2 c-2, andoptionally also the tracking number off close-range data 2 c-1, wherethe ticket number, status and optionally tracking number are then storedwithin the cell phone and venue app 2 a (process flow step (4)) andwhere the ticket status is confirmed to be some expected initial valueas set by the venue, e.g. “ISSUED” or some equivalent encoding, 2)allowing the guest to associate with the ticket a guest name ordescription for the ticket, e.g. James, Kristine, David or Bo, 3) usingdevice 2 a to capture the required biometric data type, e.g.'s “Jamesfingerprint . . . ” or “James picture . . . ” etc., and 4) optionallyrequesting or requiring that guest 1 provide guest analytics informationincluding for example any information about the guest but preferablyquasi-personal information such as age, sex, city, state, etc. that maybe useful for determining important metrics and marketplace assessmentsfor the venue/event management without compromising individual identity.

As will be discussed in more detail especially in relation to upcomingFIGS. 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b and 8c , the present invention willfurther teach means and methods for determining and tracking guest(s) 1locations down to a granular level, e.g. a particular seat at a giventime, where the seat could be on a ride in a theme park, at a sportingor music event, in a restaurant, etc., and where photos or video areautomatically captured of the guest(s) 1, for example using spottracking and photo system 60, and associated with their tracking number(but otherwise optionally not associated with any personal informationthat the venue database 40 a preferably does not anyway include.)Captured photos and videos are stored in venue database 40 b inassociation with venue database 40 a, where the association at leastincludes the tracking number, as those familiar with database systemswill understand.

In a simple use-case the purchaser is guest 1, and has purchased asingle ticket, and it is possible that the guest name be alreadyassigned to match the purchaser name and even that the ticket number hasbeen electronically down loaded onto cell phone and venue app 2 a. Theonly timing requirement for the entry of guest name, biometric data oroptional analytics is that this information is preferably completedwithin ZONE1 prior to entering ZONE2, all to be discussed in greaterdetail with respect to upcoming FIG. 3. What is preferred however isthat first a ticket is electronically scanned at close-range by cellphone 2 a (step (4) in the process flow depicted) thus confirming theminimal proper functioning of the electronic ticket 2 c. Once scanned, aguest name and possibly analytics information are associated with theticket number and therefore also the tracking number preferably at somespatial and temporal point prior to entering ZONE2 (to be discussed) itis preferred but not mandatory that the named guest input theirbiometric data (e.g. their fingerprint) for association with the ticketnumber. In a more complex use-case, the purchaser is not a guest 1, andthe guest 1 then is transferred the information and procedures necessaryfor downloading the venue app and then follows along with the remainingsteps as being herein described. Another more complex variation is thatmultiple tickets are being processed by guest 1, e.g. in a family wherethe mother or father tracks and maintains all tickets for the familyincluding children. In this multi-ticket use-case, it is preferred thatthe guest 1 scans each electronic ticket 2 c and associates a guest(e.g. family member name) with each scanned ticket 2 c, where then atsome point each of these same guests use cell phone and venue app 2 a toenter their required biometric data, e.g. fingerprint(s) or facialimage(s) and possibly analytics information as prior discussed.

Still referring to FIG. 2, in any case, once the ticket number isscanned from ticket 2 c into cell phone 2 a, and a guest name, biometricdata and analytics information are further associated with the ticketnumber and the tracking number, the status of the ticket as maintainedinternally on the cell phone and app 2 a is updated, for example from“ISSUED” to “REGISTERED.” It is then preferred that guest 1 rescan theelectronic ticket 2 c using cell phone and app 2 a, which in this casethe venue app recognizes the recent update in registration informationand wirelessly updates the ticket status maintained on close-rangeticket data 2 c-2 from “ISSUED” to “REGISTERED,” thus matching the“REGISTRED” status maintained on the cell phone 2 a, (depicted asprocess flow step (5).)

Referring next to FIG. 3, there is shown a pictorial-block diagramshowing a progression of spatial zones 71, 72, 73, and 74 within whichguest 1 (not depicted) operates their smart-ticket 2 comprising cellphone and venue app 2 a and at least electronic ticket 2 c. Within theteachings as described with respect to FIG. 3, optional paper ticket 2 bis unnecessary, however it is still preferred that electronic ticket 2 cand paper ticket 2 b are combined as this at least provides guest 1 withguest readable information and additionally provides support for thealternative access to venue via manned venue-serve access points 5 b.(However, as will be understood by a careful reading of the presentinvention, even if smart ticket 2 only comprised 2 a and 2 c, andtherefore had no guest readable information 2 b, the electronic ticket 2c alone, even without the guest's cell phone and venue app 2 a, could beused by a manned access point 5 b that was capable of reading andupdating electronic ticket 2 c in the manner described herein especiallywith relation to the present FIG. 3.) The spatial zones 71, 72, 73 and74 describe physical locations with geographic boundaries within whichguest 1 operates and otherwise uses their smart-ticket 2 with unmannedvenue self-service access points 5 a-1 and 5 a-3 in order to gainself-serve access to the venue/event. Guest 1 also uses smart-ticket 2with self-service access points 5 a-2 and 5 a-4 to exit the venue, orthe venue's pre-area.

Referring now to both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, guest 1 preferably completesregistration as prior discussed in relation to FIG. 2 within ZONE1 71,where ZONE1 71 is geographically anywhere other than ZONE4 74, thevenue, ZONE3 73, a confined venue pre-area located just outside thevenue, and ZONE2 72, an unconfined area located just outside the venuepre-area. The present inventor notes that while it is preferable thatguest 1 completes registration in ZONE1 71, it is technically notnecessary. However, since ZONE1 71 is essentially everywhere other thanthe venue or close to it, having the preferred system enforce thisrequirement helps to prevent a buildup of guests 1 in either ZONE2 72 oreven possibly in ZONE3 73, wherein both spatial zones 72 and 73 it wouldalso be technically possible to complete the registration of a guest's 1electronic ticket 2 c. As the careful reader will note, registrationcould be completed after the enable (5) and live (6) steps, but at leastmust be completed before the confirm (7) step, and therefore thisdescribed sequence of electronic ticket 2 c status changes brought aboutby smart-ticket 2 operation steps as described especially with respectto FIGS. 2 and 3 are exemplary and should not be viewed as limitationsof the present invention.

Preferably guest 1 enables electronic ticket(s) 2 c in ZONE2 72, locatedpresumably on venue property but just outside a confined venue pre-area,or ZONE3 73. To enable (step (5)) electronic ticket(s) 2 c, guest 1simply brings each one or more tickets 2 c within close-range of cellphone and venue app 2 a, where preferably venue app 2 a prompts guest 1accordingly. As each one or more electronic tickets 2 c come intoclose-range communications, such as NFC, with cell phone and app 2 a,then cell phone and app 2 a: 1) reads the unique ticket number offclose-range data 2 c-1 and confirms that electronic ticket 2 c belongsto guest 1, 2) confirms that ticket status as stored in close-range data2 c-2 is set to “REGISTERED” or some equivalent, and 3) resets theticket status stored in close-range data 2 c-2 to “ENABLED.” The carefulreader will see that this “enablement” step ensures that: 1) guest 1 hastheir cell phone and venue app 2 a in their possession within closeproximity to the venue, 2) guest 1 has all of their one or moreelectronic tickets 2 c for which they intend to use to gain access tothe venue (ZONE4 74) in their possession, and 3) that for each one ormore electronic ticket 2 c to be presently used by guest 1 (or otherguests associated with guest 1) at least the biometric data andpreferably also the guest name are already entered into cell phone andapp 2 a.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 together, the present inventor notesthree important understandings with respect to registration andenablement. First, by using a separate app ID as found on cell phone andapp 2 a that uniquely corresponds to a ticket number (as stored inclose-range data 2 c-1) it is ensured that guest 1 only uses electronicticket(s) 2 c that were purchased by the purchaser related to, or being,guest 1 (refer to the prior teachings especially with respect to FIG.2.) Likewise, it is ensured that if a first guest 1 loses or has any oftheir electronic tickets 2 c stolen, where even the status of the lostor stolen tickets 2 c is still set to “ISSUED,” this “ISSUED” ticketcannot be used by any second guest 1 with a second cell phone and venueapp 2 a, since the second unique app ID on the second device 2 a willnot match the first unique app ID on the first device 2 a andaccordingly not associate with the electronic ticket(s) 2 c lost orstolen by the first guest 1. Second, the guest 1 will be prepared toenter the venue premises starting with the venue pre-area ZONE3 73assured to have both their cell phone and venue app 2 a along withauthenticated ticket(s) 2 c. Third, the guest 1 controlling cell phoneand venue app 2 a will have already ensured that each ticket(s) 2 cassociated with their device 2 a have been assigned to guest(s) 1, andthat each of guest(s) 1 have entered initial biometric data (e.g. theirfingerprint) essentially locking that authenticated ticket tothemselves, thus at least saving time once entering ZONE3 73 and therebyreducing crowding within the confined venue pre-area.

While it is possible to implement ZONE3 73 as a physical area visuallydemarked for the guest, the present inventor prefers and teaches thatcell phone and venue app 2 a uses GPS to indicate via the app when theguest 1 is within ZONE2 72, and therefore to also not allow enablementunless within ZONE2 72. As the careful reader will see, by simplyrelying upon visual demarcation of ZONE2 72, guests 1 may ignore therequirement of conducting step (5) within ZONE2 72, for exampleconducting step (5) at home in ZONE1 71 and then perhaps forgetting tobring their cell phone 2 a to the venue. As will be understood by thosefamiliar with object tracking technologies, there are technologies otherthan GPS that are useable for cell phone with venue app 2 a to determinewhen the guest 1 and device 2 a is within ZONE2 72, for example at leastincluding a local positioning system (LPS) such as (WPS) wi-fipositioning system or event Bluetooth. What is most important is thatpreferably cell phone and venue app 2 a self-determine when the guest 1and device 2 a are within at least ZONE2 72 and ZONE3 73, and torestrict the user from enabling and confirming respectively theirelectronic ticket(s) 2 c unless within these limited areas.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, as prior discussed and as will beunderstood by those familiar with symmetric encryption systems, therandomly assigned unique app ID may be used as both an encryptor anddecryptor of all the one or more ticket number(s) purchased by apurchaser, regardless if multiple tickets were purchased on the sametransaction or in separate transactions, as long as the purchaser isassigned only one unique app ID. After assigning the unique app ID, thevenue uses this ID to encrypt at least each one of the venue's ticketnumbers being assigned to the purchaser, thus creating for eachelectronic ticket 2 c a unique string of binary bits representing theticket number, where this unique string of binary bits is thentransferred onto electronic ticket 2 c close-range data 2 c-1 andpossibly extended range data 2 c-3 (although a separate, distinct andlikewise encrypted tracking number is preferred for data 2 c-3.) Thevenue also and preferably with minimum exposure provides the app ID tothe purchaser and therefore guest 1 for use inside of cell phone andvenue app 2 a. To confirm that any given electronic ticket 2 c belongsto a given guest 1, a given cell phone and venue app 2 a being operatedby the given guest 1 then reads the unique string of binary bitsrepresenting the ticket number off close-range data 2 c-1 on electronicticket 2 c and attempts to decrypt the string using the given app's 2 aapp ID. Upon attempted decryption, at least the format or some portionof the ticket number can be assessed by the given app 2 a such that ifthe format or some portion of the decrypted ticket number does notconform to the pre-known format or portion, the electronic ticket 2 c isdetermined to not belong to the given guest 1 and therefore its statuscannot be changed, for example cannot be set to “REGISTERED,” “LIVE,”“ENABLED,” “CONFIRMED,” or “ACTIVE.”

While a symmetric encryption system is preferred, including theassignment of a unique app ID by the venue to the purchaser, and thesubsequent use of the app ID to encrypt and then decrypt at least theticket number encoded onto electronic ticket 2 c, other encryptiontechniques are possible as will be well known by those skilled in theart of cryptography. Furthermore, the preferred use of an app ID forencryption and decryption of at least the ticket numbers is notnecessary for receiving significant other benefits from the presentteachings and is therefore to be considered as an exemplification andnot a limitation of the present invention. It is possible that for somevenues tickets are free and therefore theft is of minimal or no concern,such that encryption is superfluous, but otherwise access to the eventis limited or controlled such that the use of a system 100 for guest 1self-serve access to an event using unmanned access points 5 a is stillbeneficial. Furthermore, electronic ticket 2 c especially with extendedrange tracking number data 2 c-3 is useful for the tracking of guest 1movements with the venue, regardless of the cost to enter the venue,e.g. at a convention. Again, for these reason as will be well understoodby a careful reading of the present teachings and knowledge of a givenvenue and/or venue event type, the preferred use of app ID's and ticketnumber encryption, as well as therefore the process of ensuring that agiven electronic ticket 2 c belongs to a guest 1 during the enable step(5), may not be necessary while other remaining novel features of thepresent invention do still provide useful value.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, after guest 1 has enabled each oftheir one or more electronic tickets 2 c while in ZONE2 72, they mayproceed through any of one or more unmanned self-serve access points 5a-1 providing exclusive entrance into ZONE3 a confined venue pre-area73; one guest 1 for each electronic ticket 2 c, where exclusive entranceimplies at least that: 1) a guest 1 has no other reasonable option forentering pre-area 73 except through an access point 5 a-1 (hence thepre-area is “confined”) and 2) a guest 1 must present an electronicticket 2 c to pass through the access point 5 a-1. In the use-case of aguest 1 such as a mother or a father who is managing all a family'stickets with their cell phone and venue app 2 a, the present inventionanticipates that after enabling each ticket(s) 2 c, the ticket(s) 2 care distributed to the associated and named guest 1 who then scans theirticket 2 c on an appropriate area of the self-serve access point 5 a-1.As each one or more electronic tickets 2 c come into close-rangecommunications, such as NFC, with access point 5 a-1, then access point5 a-1: 1) confirms that electronic ticket 2 c is both: a) authentic, andb) valid, 2) confirms that ticket status as stored in close-range data 2c-2 is set to “ENABLED” or some equivalent, and 3) resets the ticketstatus stored in close-range data 2 c-2 to “LIVE” (process flow step(6).) With respect to ticket counterfeit protection, the presentinventor restates that there are at least two means anticipated herein.First, the authentication code embedded within close range data 2 c-1 isreadable by a close-range communication technology such as NFC,preferably adapted within at least all unmanned access points 5 a.Either the access point 5 a itself, or in connection to a network forexample including a connection to a third-party cloud basedanti-counterfeiting service such a provided by Hewlett Packard, can usethe embedded authentication code to verify the ticket 2 c. Second, if aspreferred, paper ticket 2 b is combined with electronic ticket 2 c, andalso as preferred paper ticket 2 b includes an additional and distinctprinted variation of the authentication code such as by using a QR code,than access points 5 a could be further adapted to include QR codescanners for automatically inputting the printed authentication code forverification against the embedded authentication code, all as will bewell understood by those familiar with anti-counterfeiting systems.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, once guest(s) 1 have entered theconfined venue pre-area 73, it is preferred but not necessary that aZONE3 is spatially limited to a section of pre-area 73 closest to theaccess point(s) 5 a-3 into venue 74. As will be understood by thosefamiliar with crowd management and venue access control, by limitingZONE3 to a portion of pre-area 73, e.g. 50 feet beyond the accesspoint(s) 5 a-1 leading into pre-area 73 at least two non-technical goalsare accomplished: 1) already entered guests 1 will tend to continuemoving forward and therefore not impeding other guests 1 still enteringthrough point(s) 5 a-1 behind them, until the entered guests 1 at leastreach ZONE3 where they may then confirm their tickets (to be discussedshortly) and 2) guests 1 will be not be tempted to consider passingeither their cell phones and venue apps 2 a or their electronic tickets2 c back across access point(s) 5 a-1 to perhaps their friends behindthem, where the guest 1 might be thinking that this would allow theirfriends to also enter the venue 74. With respect to the firstaccomplished non-technical goal, the present invention anticipates thatmost cell phones being used as device 2 a include GPS and that the GPSsignal will be sufficiently strong such that the venue app on device 2 acan self-detect using GPS coordinates pre-associated to ZONE3 within 73(exactly like the approach preferred for ZONE2 72.) As an alternative,the venue app on device 2 a could coordinate its location using a LPSsuch as WPS (wi-fi positioning system) or even by becoming in range of apre-known Bluetooth signal. In any case, the venue app on device 2 awill not allow guest 1 to initiate or complete the confirmation ofticket 2 s until it has detected the presence of device 2 a (andtherefore also guest 1) to be within ZONE3 of pre-area 73.

With respect to the second accomplished non-technical goal, the presentinventor notes that even if some misguided guest 1 should successfullypass their cell phone and venue app 2 a, by itself, back from ZONE3within pre-area 73, over one of access point(s) 5 a-1 and into ZONE2,this will only result in: 1) this misguided guest 1 will then not beable to confirm their own electronic ticket 2 c without their cell phoneand venue app 2 a, and 2) any other accomplice guests 1 receiving thecell phone and venue app 2 a from the misguided guest 1 will only beable to enable an authentic electronic ticket 2 c that is registeredwith device 2 a and therefore also fully paid for and known to the venuesystem. Should the misguided guest keep their cell phone and venue app 2a with them in ZONE3 within pre-area 73 but successfully pass theirelectronic ticket 2 c back to an accomplice guest 1, this will onlyresult in: 1) misguided guest 1 without electronic ticket 2 c willneither be able to enter ZONE4 74 the venue through access point(s) 5a-3 nor exit ZONE3 within pre-area 73 using access point(s) 5 a-2, and2) the accomplice guest 1 will be unable to enter into ZONE3 from ZONE2where they received the misguided guest 1's electronic ticket 2 c,because the status on the misguided guest 1's ticket is already set to“LIVE” and is no longer set to the “ENABLED” status requisite forentering the pre-area 73 through access point(s) 5 a-1. And finally,should the misguided guest 1 standing in pre-area 73 manage tosuccessfully pass both their cell phone and venue app 2 a along withelectronic ticket 2 c back to an accomplice guest 1 standing in ZONE272, as will be obvious from the above description, all that will beaccomplished is that the misguided guest 1 will be stranded within theconfined area 73 and the accomplice guest 1 will be unable to use theelectronic ticket 2 c to enter pre-area 73 through access point(s) 5a-1.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, once a guest 1 has both enteredpre-area 73 and proceeded into preferably spatially restricted ZONE3closer to ZONE4 74, then guest 1 will find that venue app on device 2 awill now either automatically prompt after automatically detecting thepresence of guest 1 and device 2 a within ZONE3, or otherwise now acceptconfirmation by guest(s) 1 of any one or more electronic tickets 2 cthat were also successfully brought into ZONE3. The present inventoralso notes that by describing preferred information such as thatdisclosed in relation to the teaching of FIG. 2, hence including theinformation maintained in venue database 40 a, cell phone and venue app2 a, electronic ticket 2 c and paper ticket 2 b, the careful readershould not construe any lack of information as a limitation of thepresent invention. For example, it is a well-known practice thattransactions are benefited by recording a date and time which accesspoint 5 a-1 could capture at the time of scanning an electronic ticket 2c and then update any one of, or any combination of: 1) venue database40 a, 2) cell phone and venue app 2 a, or 3) electronic ticket 2 c.Those skilled in the art of venue access management will understand thatother information (as just exemplified) may be desirable formaintaining, and that any such information is anticipated and thereforealso considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the process of confirming anelectronic ticket 2 c using cell phone and venue app 2 a is preferred toinclude: 1) detecting valid presence of device 2 a within ZONE3 forexample by determining GPS coordinates for comparison to the pre-knownlocation of ZONE3 within pre-area 73, 2) brining an electronic ticket 2c in close range of device 2 a such that device 2 a using acommunication method such as NFC is able to: a) read close range data 2c-1 comprising at least a unique ticket number and also preferably anauthentication code, where both the ticket number using the app ID isconfirmed and the preferable authentication code is verified using somemethod such as printed QR code included on combined printed ticket 2 band/or an anti-counterfeit process running locally or remotely through athird-party system, and b) read close range data 2 c-2 and confirm thatthe ticket status is set to “LIVE,” 3) prompting or otherwise allowingthe guest associated with ticket 2 c to enter their required biometricdata, such as a finger print, and confirming that this newly enteredbiometric data matches the pre-known biometric data for the guest 1 asinput during the registration step (preferably conducted prior toentering ZONE3) and 4) bringing the electronic ticket 2 c back intoclose range of device 2 a such that device 2 a using a communicationmethod such as NFC is able to: 1) reconfirm that the now detected ticket2 c has the proper ticket number and status (as just described) and 2)reset the ticket status to “CONFIRMED” (step (7) in the process flow.)

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, after guest 1 has confirmed each oftheir one or more electronic tickets 2 c while in ZONE3 73, they mayproceed through any of one or more unmanned self-serve access points 5a-3 providing exclusive entrance into a confined venue 74; one guest 1for each electronic ticket 2 c, where exclusive entrance implies atleast that: 1) a guest 1 has no other reasonable option for enteringvenue 74 except through an access point 5 a-3 (hence the venue is“confined”) and 2) a guest 1 must present an electronic ticket 2 c topass through the access point 5 a-3. In the use-case of a guest 1 suchas a mother or a father who is managing all a family's tickets withtheir cell phone and venue app 2 a, the present invention anticipatesthat after confirming each ticket(s) 2 c, the ticket(s) 2 c aredistributed to the associated and named guest 1 who then scans theirticket 2 c on an appropriate area of the self-serve access point 5 a-3.As each one or more electronic tickets 2 c come into close-rangecommunications, such as NFC, with access point 5 a-3, access point 5a-3: 1) confirms that electronic ticket 2 c is both: a) authentic, andb) valid, 2) confirms that ticket status as stored in close-range data 2c-2 is set to “CONFIRMED” or some equivalent, and 3) resets the ticketstatus stored in close-range data 2 c-2 to “ACTIVE” (step (8) in theprocess flow.) Where authentication (a) and validation (b) arepreferably equivalent (and therefore also redundant) to the operationsperformed with respect to access point(s) 5 a-1.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, access point(s) 5 a-2 and 5 a-4 areavailable to guest(s) 1 for self-serve exiting of either the venuepre-area 73 or the venue 74, respectively. At any time guest(s) 1 mayproceed through any of one or more unmanned self-serve access points 5a-2 or 5 a-4 providing exclusive exit from venue pre-area 73 and venue74, respectively; one guest 1 for each electronic ticket 2 c, whereexclusive exit implies at least that: 1) a guest 1 has no otherreasonable option for exiting pre-area 73 or venue 74 except through anaccess point 5 a-2 or 5 a-4 respectively, and 2) a guest 1 must presentan electronic ticket 2 c to pass through any of access points 5 a-2 or 5a-4. As each one or more electronic tickets 2 c come into close-rangecommunications, such as NFC, with access points 5 a-2 or 5 a-4, accesspoints 5 a-2 and 5 a-4: 1) confirm that the ticket status as stored inclose-range data 2 c-2 is set to “CONFIRMED” or some equivalent (ifaccess point is 5 a-2) or “ACTIVE” or some equivalent (if access pointis 5 a-4), and 3) resets the ticket status stored in close-range data 2c-2 to “REGISTERED.” The present inventor also anticipates that at thisexit time it is possible for the system 100 to determine if a givenelectronic ticket 2 c is “fully consumed” with respect to the dates andtimes of use purchased for the venue/event, and as such could then resetthe ticket status to “INACTIVE” or some equivalent as opposed to“REGISTERED.” However, the present inventor prefers “REGISTERED” sincethat allows the guest(s) 1 to return immediately into the venue/event(e.g. if they forgot some article) even if there is only e.g. 5 minutesleft in their purchased time, without having to go through a mannedaccess point(s) 5 b.

Still referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, as a careful reader will see, thedata depicted within venue database 40 a, cell phone and app 2 a, andelectronic ticket 2 c is sufficient for the processing and functionsthus far described, while other data may be useful to capture andmaintain within 40 a, 2 a or 2 c without departing from the scope of thepresent invention, as will be well understood by those familiar withinformation systems. For example, the present inventor anticipates thata venue might require all guests within ZONE3 to capture one or morefacial images and one or more body images, where the body images willprovide important additional features (such as clothing colors andsurface textures) and where the one or more facial images and one ormore body images are uploaded from the cell phone and venue app 2 a tovenue database 40 a as biometric data to be stored in addition to thebiometric ID type. This additional biometric data is useful foridentifying individual guests 1 while within the venue by use of one ormore venue cameras, for example when the guest 1 enters, occupies orleaves an area including a venue vehicle, or a venue vehicle seat,thereby for example allowing a venue to restrict access and/or trackaccess, including tracking the ongoing location of an individual guest 1by first determining which seat on a vehicle they are occupying and thentracking the vehicle, all as to be discussed in greater detailespecially in relation to upcoming FIGS. 8a and 8b . As will also beunderstood by those familiar with issues related to sensitive personalinformation (SPI), some guest(s) 1 may object to providing their facialor body images to the venue. The present inventor also anticipates thatmeta-data at least including distinct image features as will be wellunderstood by those familiar with facial recognition and/or patternmatching, is extracted by venue app 2 a from the facial and body imagesand alternately uploaded to venue database 40 a rather than the originalfacial and body images that remain within device 2 a or are deleted byvenue app 2 a, where the meta-data is more private than the originalimages and is not recognizable by human observation.

Still referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, as just stated, the presentinvention anticipates that for venues that host groups with youngerchildren optionally allowing, if not requiring, all guests within ZONE3to capture one or more facial images and one or more body images of allguest(s) 1 in the registered group of guest(s) 1 along with anindication of which one or more guest(s) 1 in the group are guardiansversus non-guardians, and for all guardians requiring contactinformation including cell phone numbers, where groups are for examplefamilies that are sharing a single cell phone and venue app 2 a as theticket controlling device, or school groups that might be sharingpurchaser info but using multiple cell phone and venue app 2 a devices,where each of the multiple devices 2 a additionally accepts at least agroup code or similar that is stored in the venue database 40 a andotherwise serves to join all of the guardian and non-guardian guest(s)of a group together in the venue database 40 a.

As those familiar with theme and amusement parks will understand, it ispossible for a younger child to become separated from parent(s) orguardian(s). As the careful reader will see, the present teachingsprovide for the following security and safety measures, including anyone of, or any combination of: 1) allowing any guest(s) 1 with cellphone and venue app 2 a to use the venue app in 2 a to report any otherguest(s) 1 missing, where the reporting action notifies the venue, e.g.via a global eco-system 40 or similar as described in the parent patent,and where: a) venue personal are notified for example on their mobiledevices providing pictures, last known whereabouts, as well as thepicture and contact information of the reporting guest 1, and b) theinformation of missing guests ticket numbers are providing to all venueexit manned and unmanned access points such as 5 a-2, 5 a-4 and 5 b,where all exit access points will not allow these missing ticket numbersto be scanned successfully for exit and will alert the venue if anattempt to exit is made, 2) notifying a guest(s) 1 selected within thevenue app 2 a as a guardian whenever a non-guardian guest(s) 1,registered through the same app or otherwise associated within venuedatabase 2 a for example using a group code, enters or exits a confinedstructure some time before all of any guardian guest(s) 1, where aconfined structure includes any of the venue, sub-venue, sub-sub venue,etc. as defined herein, where for a theme park confined structures wouldinclude the entire park, gated sections within the park such assub-parks, rides, restaurants, shops, movie theaters, rest rooms, etc.,or 3) if another guest 1 or venue agent finds a guest 1 who appears tobe lost, they can capture an image(s) of the apparently lost guest 1using their cell phone and venue app 2 a, where the image(s) of theapparently lost guest are transferred to the venue database 40 a andprocessed using facial and/or other pattern recognition to locate allpossible best matches from amongst all known guest(s) 1 in venuedatabase 40 a, where the venue system then uses the contact informationassociated with the guardians of the best matching guest(s) 1 to notifyand provide the guardians with the location of the missing guest(s) 1,current images of the missing guest(s) 1, as well as venue personnelcontact information.

And lastly with respect to FIG. 3, as will be well understood by thosefamiliar with venue access management, it is not necessary nor evenpreferred that access to the venue ZONE4 74 is only allowed through thecombination of self-serve access points 5 a-1 and 5 a-3. The presentinventor prefers that one or more manned venue-serve access points 5 b(not depicted) are made available through which a guest 1 may enterZONE4 74 directly by proceeding through point 5 b, where access points 5b preferably connect ZONE2 72 with ZONE4 74 not passing through ZONE373. The present invention is also “nestable,” meaning that within agiven venue, there may conceptually be sub-venues, and when thosesub-sub-venues, etc., where for each venue, sub-venue and sub-sub-venue,etc. the present system 100, or any of its alternatives and variantspreviously described or to be described especially in relation toupcoming FIG. 4 and FIG. 10, operates to provide self-serve access inthe same manner as described in relation to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 with theexception that the functions of ZONE1 and ZONE2 are immaterial. Using atheme park as an example, within the theme park (i.e. venue) there maybe one or more rides that include a special entrance that is commonlyreferred and will be well-known to those skilled in the art of themeparks as a “fast lane” (i.e. sub-venue.)

Like the theme park, access to the fast-lane is typically purchased,represented in the ticket, and monitored by manned access points (suchas 5 b.) As will be appreciated by a careful reading of the presentinvention, in this theme park/fast lane nested situation, after a guest1 has entered the park their electronic ticket is now “ACTIVE” (all asprior described.) Within the park, the guest many then come upon a ridewith two entrances: 1) a normal lane entrance where no additionalpayment was required and no monitoring is necessarily provided, and 2) afast-lane entrance where additional payment was required and monitoringis necessary. Any guest 1, whether they purchased fast-lane access ornot, can enter the normal lane entrance (1) without need for anymonitoring, although the present invention anticipates detecting theentrance of a guest 1 by scanning extended range data 2 c-3 withchokepoint wireless reader 6. If the fast lane is set up with a firstunmanned access point 5 a-1, then any guest 1 may attempt self-entry. Aguest 1 that has not purchased an electronic ticket 2 c that is validfor access to this “sub-venue” will be denied. A guest 1 with a ticket 2c that includes access to this fast lane will be allowed to enter, atwhich point access point 5 a-1 also resets the ticket 2 c's status 2 c-2from “ACTIVE” to “LIVE.”

Upon entering what is now effectively ZONE3 for the fast lane, the guest1 will be required to confirm that the ticket 2 c they used to enterthrough access point 5 a-1 was in fact their ticket, where theconfirmation is for example rescanning their fingerprint using the cellphone and venue app 2 a. If the guest 1 entering the fast lane is usingsomeone's else's ticket 2 c in an attempt to gain unauthorized access tothe fast lane, either: 1) their cell phone and venue app 2 a will notrecognize the ticket 2 c as belonging to their device 2 a (because forexample it was given to them by another purchaser and the ticket 2 c,although authentic, does not match the list of tickets 2 c internallystored on device 2 a) 2) their cell phone and venue app 2 a willrecognize the ticket but not confirm the ticket because its status is“ACTIVE” and not “LIVE,” (because for example the guest entered withtheir own ticket 2 c but then was handed another ticket 2 c that waspurchased by the same purchaser and registered by the same device 2 a,but was not used to enter the fast lane and therefore was never updatedto a status of “LIVE”) or 3) their cell phone and venue app 2 a willrecognize the ticket but not confirm the ticket because theirfingerprint does not match the fingerprint associated with the ticket 2c as registered on device 2 a (because for example the guest enteredwith their own ticket 2 c but then was handed another ticket 2 c thatwas purchased by the same purchaser and registered by the same device 2a, and was used by some other guest 1 to enter the fast lane and wastherefore set to “LIVE,” but fails because of the mismatch infingerprints.)

The present inventor notes that it would be possible for a singlepurchaser to but 2 tickets 2 c, one with fast lane privileges and theother without, with the idea of trying to swap tickets now and thenbetween guests 1. However, as the careful reader will see, 1) the ticketwithout fast lane privileges will never gain fast lane access throughpoint 5 a-1 (or 5 a-3) and 2) the ticket with fast lane privileges canonly be confirmed by one guest 1. Once a valid ticket 2 c is scanned atfast lane access point 5 a-1, and the guest 1's finger print isconfirmed to match the ticket 2 c while within fast lane ZONE3, thedevice 2 a will update the ticket 2 c's status 2 c-2 from “LIVE” to“CONFIRMED” and the guest 1 may then use the ticket 2 c to pass throughthe second access point 5 a-3 to enter the ride, where access point 5a-3 then changes the status 5 c-2 on the ticket 2 c from “CONFIRMED” toback to the original “ACTIVE.” As with accessing the non-fast lane, thepresent invention anticipates detecting the entrance of a guest 1 intothe fast lane by scanning extended range data 2 c-3 with chokepointwireless reader 6. Furthermore, the present inventor prefersadditionally detecting guest(s) 1 by scanning their extended range data2 c-3 using scanner 6, (regardless of the non-fast lane or fast lanepath they took to arrive at the ride) as they enter the ride and evencombining with other technology to be further explained with respect toupcoming FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c as they take an individual seat on a ride,and then also as they exit the ride area and enter into a shop, and thenalso as they exit the shop—the value of which will be well understood tothose skilled in the art of theme park management.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a row/column matrix, wherecolumns represent the preferred and alternate smart ticket 2implementations, and the rows represent the progression of zones andchokepoints (inclusive of access points 5 a-1 and 5 a-3) taught in FIG.3. As prior stated in relation to FIG. 1, a preferred smart ticket 2 asherein taught is either cell phone and venue app 2 a alone, or cellphone and venue app 2 a combined with either or both paper ticket 2 band electronic ticket 2 c. In this regard, FIG. 4 discusses thefollowing implementations of smart ticket 2: (B) “Virtual Ticket,” whichis cell phone and venue app 2 a being used without either a paper ticket2 b or electronic ticket 2 c, (C) “Paper Ticket,” which is cell phoneand venue app 2 a being used in combination with paper ticket 2 b, (D)“Close-Range E-Ticket,” which is cell phone and venue app 2 a being usedin combination with electronic ticket 2 c (as primarily discussed inrelation to FIGS. 2 and 3) and (E) “Extended Range E-Ticket,” which iscell phone and venue app 2 a being used in combination with electronicticket 2 c (as primarily discussed in relation to FIGS. 2 and 3 exceptthat all of the close range data 2 c-1 and 2 c-2 is implemented asextended range data 2 c-3, e.g. where the authentication code, ticketnumber and ticket status are all combined with the tracking number forimplementation using a passive extended range technology such as passiveUHF RFID, as will be well understood by those skilled in the art of atleast RFID systems.) The present inventor notes that while it ispossible, there is no limitation that a given system 100 workexclusively with any one type of smart ticket 2, i.e. (B), (C), (D) or(E), or any other the alternates or variations, as the preferred system100 accommodates its guest 1's needs which may range such that supportany combination of smart tickets 2 is desirable.

Still referring to FIG. 4, before describing each of the embodiments ofsmart ticket 2 in more detail, such as (B) Virtual Ticket, (C) PaperTicket, (D) Close-Range E-Ticket and (E) Extended Range E-Ticket, thepresent inventor notes generic (A) “All Tickets” is representative ofall embodiments (B), (C), (D) and (E) as they progress through the stepsand states of: ZN1 (ZONE1 Registration) CP1 (Choke Point 1) ZN2 (ZONE2Enablement) CP2 (Choke Point 2) ZN3 (ZONE3 Confirmation) CP3 (ChokePoint 3) ZN4 (ZONE4 Activated) CP4 (Choke Point 4) and ZN5 (ZONE 5Registration) where the careful reader will note these same steps andstates to be those detailed in FIG. 3 with respect to (D) close-rangee-ticket (that preferably included extended range data 2 c-3 for thepurposes of guest tracking once arriving within the venue.) What isimportant is that system 100 comprises any of the smart ticket 2embodiments (or alternates and variations discussed directly by theinventor herein or as will be obvious to others based upon the teachingsherein and the application of new and advancing technologies) beingtaken through the sequences of ZONEs and Chokepoints herein described,where the combination of the smart ticket 2 and sequence of ZONEs andChokepoints providing at least some of the novel and important benefitsof the present invention.

Still referring to FIG. 4, Virtual Ticket (B) comprises cell phone andvenue app 2 a and conveniently excludes the use of a paper ticket 2 b orelectronic ticket 2 c. While it is possible to further adapt a typicalcell phone (i.e. smart phone) with an RFID reader, it is preferable thatVirtual Ticket (B) use a cell phone that includes a close-rangecommunications technology such as near field communications (NFC.) Oneof the limitations of Virtual Ticket (B) is that it is only practicalfor use as a single guest 1 ticket, as serving multiple guest(s) 1 wouldbecome problematic especially when attempting to pass throughsingle-file chokepoints. With Virtual Ticket (B), close range data 2 c-1and 2 c-2 resides within cell phone and venue app 2 a rather than withinthe electronic ticket 2 c as described in relation to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.Other than this distinction, Virtual Ticket (B) operates exactly likethe teachings in relation to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 describing device 2 a incombination with electronic ticket 2 c. As the careful reader will note,access points 5 a-1, 5 a-2, 5 a-3, 5 a-4 and 5 b all read and write toclose range data 2 c-1 and 2 c-2 using a close-range technology such asNFC, and otherwise cannot detect any different in data 2 c-1 and 2 c-2being located on device 2 a (as with the Virtual Ticket (B)) or on theelectronic ticket 2 c (as with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.) The present inventornotes that a misguided guest 1 might wish to provide their VirtualTicket (B) to an accomplice guest 1 for use at a venue. To attempt thisboth the misguided guest 1 and accomplice guest 1 must have someembodiment of smart ticket 2 in order to pass chokepoint 2 (which isaccess point 5 a-1) for entering into ZONE3 Confirmation. Since bothguests 1 would need a valid ticket, the only potential benefit would bethat the misguided guest 1 was attempting to provide to the accompliceguest 1 an upgraded ticket, e.g. in a theme park setting the upgradecould allow for fast lane access. However, even if the misguided guest 1swapped their Virtual Ticket (B) with the accomplice guest 1, while bothguests 1 would be able to cross chokepoint 3 (access point 5 a-3) intoZone4 the venue, only the accomplice guest 1 holding the upgradedVirtual Ticket (B) would for example be able to enter a fast lane, afterwhich they would not then also be able to confirm the Virtual Ticket (B)with a valid biometric such as a fingerprint.

Still referring to FIG. 4, Paper Ticket (C) comprises cell phone andvenue app 2 a in combination with paper ticket 2 b but excludeselectronic ticket 2 c. Unlike Virtual Ticket (B), Paper Ticket (C) hasthe benefit of allowing one guest 1 (assumed, but not required to be thepurchaser) to register and otherwise confirm multiple Paper Tickets (C)using a single cell phone and venue app 2 a, which at least in the caseof theme parks and families with young children is a significantadvantage. (The present inventor notes that just as there is nolimitation that system 100 work exclusively with one type of smartticket 2 such as (B), (C), (D) or (E), likewise there is no limitationthat a single cell phone and venue app 2 a can't be both a VirtualTicket (B) for one guest 1 and work with any combination of one or morePaper Tickets (C), Close-Range Electronic Tickets (D) and Extended RangeElectronic Tickets (E), as will become better understood with theremaining description of FIG. 4.) Another advantage of Paper Ticket (C),at least with respect to Virtual Ticket (B), is that a Paper Ticket (B)preferably comprises a printed version of the ticket number (e.g. as abar code) as well as possibly also an authentication code (e.g. as a QRcode, or a 2D bar code.) As prior discussed, the authentication codecould be the same as the authentication code in the cell phone and venueapp 2, in which case these codes would need to match just like theticket number(s) on the one or more Paper Tickets (C), although it isalso possible that the authentication code printed on the Paper Ticket(C) was first encrypted using the device 2 a app ID, in which case it isa harder code to forge, and it serves to protect both the venue andpurchaser from theft and ticket loss. Similarly, while not mandatory, ifthe ticket numbers assigned to the purchaser by the venue are firstencoded using the purchaser's unique (and preferably secret) app ID,then this makes it significantly more difficult for a forger to createcounterfeit tickets, let alone counterfeit tickets that work with acounterfeit App ID properly embedded into a valid venue app 2 a.

Still referring to FIG. 4, using Paper Ticket (C) is exactly like usingVirtual Ticket (B) with the following somewhat problematic exception.Specifically, if there is a single guest 1 that is controlling cellphone and venue app 2 a for which their own Paper Ticket (C) isregistered, then this single guest 1 has the option of scanning eithertheir device 2 a or their Paper Ticket (C) when passing through anyaccess point 5 a-1, 5 a-2, 5 a-3, 5 a-4 or 5 b. This of course assumesthat these access points have been adapted to include both a close-rangecommunication technology such as NFC, for reading the ticket number andstatus off device 2 a, or a bar code or QR code scanner for reading theticket number of Paper Ticket (C). The problem is that Paper Ticket (C)cannot be updated to include the ticket status which is critical insystem 100. In this case, this single guest 1 would clearly need to scantheir device 2 a obviating the need for a Paper Ticket (C). However, inthe family situation prior mentioned, for which a single controllingdevice 2 a with multiple Paper Tickets (C) is preferable, one alternatepreferred variation of an unmanned access point 5 a is to include adisplay that shows one or more “allowed” ticket numbers, where “allowed”ticket numbers are those ticket numbers found to be on the controllingdevice 2 a and to have the appropriately valid data, e.g. ticket number,ticket status and possibly authentication code. For example, if a familyof four guests is approaching choke point 2, i.e. access point 5 a-1,then the first guest is preferably the operator of the controllingdevice 2 a who scans their device 2 a accomplishing two main goals: 1)validating their own (in this case) Virtual Ticket (B), and 2) providinga list of 3 additional validated Paper Tickets (C), where in the presentteachings for access point 5 a-1 the ticket status maintained on thecontrolling device 2 a for each of the 3 additional Paper Tickets (C) isalso set to “ENABLED,” as is the first guests Virtual Ticket (B).

At this point, as each of the 3-remaining family (really group) membersproceeds to pass through access point 5 a-1, their Paper Ticket (C)number is matched and accepted, allowing them to pass, and then removedfrom the list. The present inventor notes that it is not even necessarythat all of the 3-remaining guests pass through access point 5 a-1directly after the first guest, as the access point 5 a-1 can also beconnect to all other access points 5 a-1 and the 3-remaining validatedtickets continue to be acceptable to system 100 until the 3-remainingguests do pass through in this example choke point 2, irrespective ofwhich of multiple possible access points 5 a-1 they use or whether ornot they are directly following each other as opposed to being proceededby some other guest(s) 1. However, as will be obvious to the carefulreader, once the first guest has crossed from ZONE 2 through choke point2 (access point 5 a-1) into ZONE 3, then any of the 3-remaining guestswill need to enter into ZONE3 before the first guest confirms themselvesand enters into ZONE4 via chokepoint 3 (access point 5 a-3.) Oneinteresting note is that once all of the example family is within ZONE3and all of their respective tickets have been confirmed using the device2 a controlled by the first guest of the family, than all other3-remaining paper tickets are now confirmed and any of these 3-remainingguests could for example tarry in ZONE3 (perhaps to use the restrooms orgo into a shop) while all of the remaining family proceeded into ZONE4,all as will be well understood by a careful reading of the presentinvention.

As will also be appreciated from a careful reading of the presentinvention, paper ticket (C) does not include extended range data such asthe tracking number of data 2 c-3. As prior mentioned, any guest 1 witha paper ticket (C) may also receive a wearable 16 that does include theextended range data and therefore will receive all the other benefitsherein taught for at least tracking individual guests 1 to specificvenue locations including confined areas that are fixed (like a buildingor room in a building) and confined areas that are movable (like a seator spot to occupy on a vehicle or transport mechanism.) As is well knownin the art, passive RFID's come in forms that are paper thin andflexible. It is also possible and anticipated that the paper ticket (C)(2 b of FIG. 1) as issued by the venue already comprise a passive RFIDand therefore be equivalent to wearable 16 for providing extended rangedata 2 c-3 as herein taught. The present inventor further notes that insuch a case, paper ticket (C) may benefit by including a water proofsurface, of which they are many well-known options including lamination,and some less well-known options including the use of a hydrophobiccoating. Those familiar with hydrophobic coatings will understand thatthese coatings fully repel water and can bind to the surfaces such aspaper and plastics. Example products include Rain Guard's “Hydro-Lok,”or a paper that is referred to as “super hydrophobic paper.”

Referring still to FIG. 4, using Close-Range E-Ticket (D) is exactly asdescribed in especially in relation to FIGS. 2 and 3, electronic ticket2 c is a preferred implementation of (D), e.g. preferred because ticket2 c uses NFC for reading data 2 c-1 and 2 c-2 at close-range. However,the choice of reader technology is immaterial to the novelty andbenefits herein described, e.g. RFIDs can also be used for close rangereading with the drawback that cell phones are not normally found withthis capability. All as prior described, Close-Range E-Ticket (D) (e.g.implemented as electronic ticket 2 c) has significant advantagesincluding: 1) it is easy to support multiple tickets (D) with a singledevice 2 a, where after device 2 a sets the appropriate ticket statuscodes 2 c-2 on each of multiple tickets (D), each ticket (D) may be usedby one guest 1 to pass through an access point such as 5 a-1, 5 a-2, 5a-3, 5 a-4 or 5 b without requiring the presence of controlling device 2a, and 2) because ticket 2 c uses close-range readable data, it is hardto “snoop” (illicitly remove sense or reset information) from a distancebeyond 2-3 inches, which is well within the guest 1's awareness andcontrol. Also, as prior mentioned, the present inventor preferscombining Paper Ticket (C) with Close-Range E-Ticket (D), although thisis not mandatory.

Referring still to FIG. 4, using Extended Range E-Ticket (E) is likeusing Close Range E-Ticket (D), where the zone and checkpoint steps areidentical. As an extended range technology, the present inventor preferspassive UHF RFIDs that can be read to and written to at distances of 10to 20 feet with standard antennas and up to 60 feet or more with phasedarray antennas, all of which will be well understood by those familiarwith RFID technology and especially UHF Gen 2 RFID technology. (Shortly,the present inventor will provide a description of using Bluetooth as analternative extended range read/write technology, were the main drawbackis that as of today's market, Bluetooth does not support passive Tickets(E).) While the present system 100 could use active RF technology toimplement Tickets (E) at greater ranges from the antennas, the presentinventor still prefers to use for example a UHF RFID system toread/write passive Tickets (E) which are lower in cost and smaller insize. In each Zone such as where the Ticket (E) must have at least itsticket number 2 c-1 and status 2 c-2 read, and its status 2 c-2 written,a sufficient RFID antenna array must be provided, all of which isoutside of the scope of the present invention and well known to thoseskilled in the art of RFID systems.

In this scenario, a guest 1 for example controlling 4 E-Tickets (E) witha single device 2 a would perform the necessary venue app inputs asprior described in relation to FIGS. 2 and 3 depending upon the zone,after which device 2 a would preferably communicate over a localwireless network to the venue's system 100, which would then send outthe appropriate signals to read or write E-Ticket (E) data 2 c-1 or 2c-2. In at least one way, this is easier for the guest(s) 1 in that thisremoves the requirement of brining the E-Ticket (E) to within closerange of device 2 a to check the initial status or set the final status(which is required for Close-Range E-Ticket (D).) One anticipated use ofExtended Range E-Tickets (E) is when the data 2 c-1 and 2 c-2 isimplemented on a wearable such as 16, prior described in relation toFIGS. 1 and 2. If for instance, the venue was a water park and thewearables 16 were implemented as anklets on each guest 1, then it wouldbe very convenient for each guest 1 to be walking through the zones withtheir RFID wearables 16 remaining in place around one of their ankles.Within each zone, all guests 1 must use a cell phone and venue app 2 ato perform all the prior taught operations, with the exclusion ofbringing their wearable 16 into proximity of their device 2 a (i.e. sothat data 2 c-1 or 2 c-2 can be read or written.) Furthermore, accesspoints 5 a-1, 5 a-2, 5 a-3, 5 a-4 and possible manned access point 5 bwould preferably be implemented as a RFID reader at ground level thatthe guest 1 would first hold their ankle near and then second proceedthrough the turnstiles once so directed by the access point afterconfirmation of the valid and properly set E-Ticket (E).

Still referring to FIG. 4, an alternative extended range technology isBluetooth, where the E-Tickets (E) in any form, e.g. a ticket similar toelectronic ticket 2 c or a wearable such as 16, are in communicationswith both the controlling guest 1's cell phone and venue app 2 a and theaccess points 5 a-1, 5 a-2, 5 a-3, 5 a-4 and 5 b. Blue SparkTechnologies of Ohio, currently develops thin film, flexible, printedpower solutions for printed electronic systems that include Bluetoothcommunications. This or similar technology can be used to implement aBluetooth Extended Range E-Ticket (E) with the advantage of eliminatingthe RFID antenna system requirements for implementing an E-Ticket (E)using RFID for data 2 c-1 and 2 c-2 (unless the guest 1 is still wearingan optional extended range tracking number 2 c-3 or 16 implemented inRFID.) One disadvantage as prior stated is that the Blue Sparktechnology is active, and therefore relies upon batteries which can runout. However, the present inventor notes the rise in wireless powersolutions and anticipates that guests 1 could be standing within therange of a wireless power solution that energized their BluetoothE-Ticket (E) sufficient for performing data exchange with both thecontrolling guest 1's device 2 a and any access point 5 a-1, 5 a-2, 5a-3, 5 a-4 and 5 b. This is especially true when considering that in aticket-like form, E-Ticket (E) can be laid onto, therefore in proximity,a wireless power emitter provided by the venue while the guests 1 usetheir cell phone and venue app 2 a to make reads and writes, andlikewise laid onto the access points 5 a and 5 b for reading andwriting, all as will be well understood by those skilled in the art ofwireless power technologies. And finally, if the E-Ticket (E) isimplemented in a Bluetooth wearable 16 form such as an anklet, thatanklet form would allow the guest 1 to stand over or near a wirelesspower emitter energizing the Bluetooth wearable E-Ticket 16 for theherein taught uses.

Still referring to FIG. 4, it is also possible to implement an extendedrange E-Ticket (E) using wi-fi technology, where the E-Ticket (E)includes a wireless power receiver as just described, or includes abattery, and additional includes printed electronics that are readableover wi-fi communications. As will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art of wireless communications protocols and internet-of-thingsdevices, implementing a wi-fi communications E-Ticket (E) becomesproblematic because the algorithmic complexity of the wi-fi protocols iscurrently beyond printable (and therefore ultra-low cost, low power,minimum size) electronics. While future technologies will ultimatelyimpact the best choice for implementing extended range readableimplementations of an E-Ticket (E) comprising at least data 2 c-1 and 2c-2, the present inventor considers two questions to be critical for thepresent invention. First, is the extended range readable technologyavailable on the typical cell phone without further adaptation?Currently RFID is not, while Bluetooth is, (and so is NFC but this isclose range readable.) Second, can the extended range readabletechnology be used to build the preferably passive, low cost, minimumsize E-Ticket (E) either in the size or form of a normal ticket or awearable 16? Currently RFID can, but Bluetooth cannot, (while NFC can.)However, the present invention anticipates using at least close rangewireless power transmission (WPT) to energize a printable electronicsE-Ticket (E) like the products currently in production from Blue SparkTechnologies, where the WPT effectively removes the printed batterysolution now in production from Blue Spark—thus creating “passivewearable Bluetooth.” As previously stated, as long as the guest 1 placedtheir E-Ticket (E) (in any form such as 2 c or 16) in close proximity tothe WPT preferably provided by the venue, they would then use their cellphone and venue app 2 a to perform all of the functions taught hereinwith respect to the close-range readable ticket 2 c discussed especiallyin relation to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and referred to as “Close-RangeE-Ticket (D)” in FIG. 4.

Therefore, while the present inventor has taught certain preferences,the exact choices of technology for implementing either Close-RangeE-Tickets (D) or Extended Range E-Tickets (E) are immaterial and asthose skilled in the art of these various technologies will understand,new options are likely to arise that can be implemented without strayingfrom the novel teaching herein. As such, the present teachings withrespect to especially FIG. 4 and the implementation of tickets (D) and(E) should be considered as exemplifications rather than limitations ofthe present invention.

Referring next to FIG. 5a , there is shown the PRIOR ART use of wearable16 implemented as a passive RFID transponder that is energized by anelectro-magnetic field emitted by exciter mat 12, whereupon wearable 16generates a unique reflection of the field referred to as a “chip” thatis detectable using a radio receiver 18 a with decoder circuitry andlogic, all as is well known the in art of RFID systems. This particulararrangement has been in use for many years especially with respect toroad race timing systems, such as provided by ChampionChip, includingthe equipment (receiver's 18 a, mats 12 and wearables 16) along withsoftware services. What is important to note about the PRIOR ART systemsis that: 1) tracking individual guests 1 using passive UHF RFID atranges 3 to 6 feet as they cross over a surface is well established, and2) what is tracked is the real-time at which a particular guest 1crossed over mat 12 (comprising a single exciter/antenna) typicallywhere the mat 12 is arranged with a longitudinal axis perpendicular tothe expected direction of guest 1 transversal, and the particularlongitudinal point at which guest 1 crossed an individual mat 12 (andtherefore single antenna) is not known or knowable.

Referring now to FIGS. 5a and 5b , in the parent patent of which thepresent application is a continuation-in-part, the present inventordisclosed an INTERACTIVE OBJECT TRACKING MIRROR-DISPLAY ANDENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM, wherein a new type of display was disclosed thatis capable of simultaneously outputting both a public image viewable byall guests 1 with the unaided eye, and a private image, viewable toguests 1 with special glasses. In this base application, this displaywas further adapted to include a transflective surface for varyingbetween a full mirror, to half-mirror half-display and then to a fulldisplay. The mirror-display was then further adapted to include objecttracking of an article, e.g. a Wizard's Wand, for allowing a guest 1 tomove the wand to indicate spells for giving commands to a localenvironment system 30 and for participating in a park-wide gaming systemcontrolled through global environment system 40. Both eco-systems 30 and40 were extensively described in the prior parent application and willnot be further described herein. What is important to understand is thata park wide gaming system can greatly benefit from the tracking ofguests 1 throughout a theme or amusement park as is taught herein. It isalso important to understand that the teachings of the present inventionwork to both extend and enhance the teachings of the parent patent, aswell to stand alone as beneficial apparatus and methods for manyapplications beyond theme and amusement parks. It is also important tounderstand that the present teachings have significant value to themeand amusement parks even when not combined with any of the teachings ofthe parent patent, including eco-systems 30 and 40. Much of theremainder of the present application is directed to understanding guest1 movements within a theme or amusement park, even how to detect theirlocation down to individual ride seats. Again, as will be wellunderstood by those skilled in the art of theme and amusement parks,while this tracking information offers significant value for logisticsand customer service, it also provides significant value for creating aninteractive, personalized physical-virtual parkwide gaming system.

Now referring to FIG. 5b , there is shown a further adaptation to thePRIOR ART receiver's 18 a, mats 12 and wearables 16 including thecombination of a spatially co-located pressure sensing mat 14, wherereceiver 18 a is further adapted to become radio receiver and pressuresignal decoder 18 b, which like receiver 18 a communicates its trackinginformation to either or both of eco-systems 30 and 40. Regardingpressure sensitive mat 14, the present inventor notes the followingtechnologies present in today's marketplace. Kwang II Textiles Co ofGyeonggi Province, South Korea, currently sells a category of productsthey refer to as “conductive fabric,” with a specialized implementationforming a fitness mat they refer to as “conformal pressure mappingsensor.” Kwang describes the data output from their conductive fabricsystem as a “heat map,” which those skilled in the art of imagingsystems will understand as three-dimensional information, where twodimensions represent the spatial location of the applied pressure, whilethe third dimension represents the amount of pressure.

The Kwang technology is not unique and generally fits into a technologyreferred to as piezoresistive materials, where the electricalresistivity of these materials (typically a semiconductor or metal)changes in response to mechanical strain, or pressure. At least some ofthe Kwang products use a copper polyester composite yarn woven into afabric, while other companies such as EeonTex coat a fabric substratewith a lightweight conductive polymer. Still another approach has beenimplemented by MedTex that uses a silver-plated nylon acting as thepiezoresistive materials. Other individuals have built similar pressuresensing grids using what is known as ESD form, or anti-static foam,which is a polyurethane foam that is chemically doped with ananti-static agent (surfactant) all as will be well understood by thosefamiliar with piezoresistive materials. Several individuals working atthe School for Engineering of Innovative Textiles have developed whatthey refer to as “smart carpet.” Their solution is a “low-costintelligent carpet system for footstep detection,” where “the carpetconsists of activated carbon nonwoven material sandwiched between a pairof cross-aligned conductive wires to form in situ piezoresistivesensors.” What is most important, and what the careful reader will see,is that there are many available technologies for sensing pressure,where these technologies can be implemented on many surfaces with manymaterials and additional coverings for example to add strength andwaterproofing for outdoor use. The present invention teaches that whilea mat 12 with a single antenna can successfully detect the crossing ofwearable 16 somewhere across is full spatial detection range, by addingthe additional pressure sensing mat 14, a higher degree of locationgranularity is available—all as will be discussed further.

Referring next to FIG. 6a , there is shown a single seat 50 a furtheradapted with the combination of back rest pressure sensor 14-2, seatpressure sensor 14-1, combined floor pressure sensor and exciter 20 andradio receiver and pressure signal detectors 18 b-1 and 18 b-2, wherethe seat 50 a is for example a ride seat at a theme park, or a seat in amovie theater. Radio receiver and pressure signal decoders 18 b-1 and 18b-2 are preferably situated to best detect the presence of wearable 16as guest 1 enters the floor area in preparation for sitting in seat 50a. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art of RFID systems,while the data from multiple readers, especially three readers, can beused to better determine an X, Y, Z location for transponder 16, aprimary use such as herein depicted also includes redundancy. Forexample, in some cases transponder 16 may be resting at an angle so asnot to be sufficiently reflective of the exciter signal from mat 12,such that one of the two receivers 18 b-1 or 18 b-2 is unable to detector identify the unique transponder 16, therefore having multiple readersis useful.

As will also be well understood by those skilled in the art of RFIDsystems, mat 12 is not required if the receiver's such as 18 b-1 and 18b-2 are also themselves the electro-magnetic field emitters, which is analternative configuration well known in the PRIOR ART and also availablefrom companies such as ChampionChip. As will also be well understood bythose skilled in sensor devices and software systems, using aconfiguration such as depicted in FIG. 6a , it is possible todetermine: 1) when a guest 1 enters or exits the floor area of seat 50 abased upon either feet pressure detected by mat 12 within combined mat20 and/or based upon the detection of a RFID wearable 16 by detectorssuch as 18 b-1 and 18 b-2, 2) the unique tracking number representingthe identity of the guest 1 based upon the detection of a RFID wearable16 by detectors such as 18 b-1 and 18 b-2, and 3) the time of bothsitting and then standing by guest 1 based upon either back pressuredetected by mat 14-2 or buttocks pressure detected by mat 14-1. This isespecially useful in theme parks as it provides tracking informationregarding: 1) which guest 1 is in which ride seat 50 a, 2) when theguest 1 entered the ride seat and sat down, and 3) when the guest stoodup and exited the ride seat 50 a. As will be well understood by thosefamiliar with theme and amusement park rides, for some rides it ispossible for a guest 1 to attempt to stand up in the middle of the ridewhich is dangerous, where the present invention teaches a novel means ofdetecting this situation for immediate response.

Referring next to FIG. 6b , single seat 50 a has been expanded to abench seat 50 b, e.g. as might be on a theme park ride or a restaurantseat. Two important variations are depicted as compared to single seat50 a. First, the bench seat 50 b is optionally shown without a backrestpressure sensor (such as 14-2.) As will be understood by a carefulreflection on the act of sitting, detecting guest 1 presence is possiblein many ways, including: a) detecting pressure applied to some or all ofa seat area such as with 14-1 that covers all of the seat, b) detectingpressure applied to some or all of a back rest area such as with 14-2that covers all of the back rest, c) detecting foot pressure on the areaunderneath and in front of a seat where it is known that a guest 1 musttraverse in order to get in and out of their seat as with combinedpressure sensor-exciter mat 20, d) detecting pressure on thefloor/support structure underneath a seat applied by a surface of theseat, e) detecting pressure on a surface of a seat where it has fixed orfree contact with a floor/support structure, f) detecting pressure onarm rests to either side of a seat, or any other means for translatingthe downward pressure created by the presence of a guest 1 within aresting or standing place by using the technologies herein preferred orsimilar.

Regarding alternative technologies for detecting pressure or presence ofa guest 1 at a specific resting or standing location, the presentinventor notes several alternatives including but not limited to: 1) aspreviously mentioned using various forms of what are referred to astextile sensors, similar to Kwang such as manufactured by Plug&Wear ofFlorence, Italy, that can detect any of guest 1 touch, appliedmechanical pressure from guest 1, or strain (fabric stretching) causedby guest 1, 2) using a conductive Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)material, which is a common thermoplastic polymer often used in 3Dprinting or for molding into various shapes (such as the well-known LEGObricks) and exhibits the useful properties of: a) toughness and highimpact resistance idea for theme park ride seating, b) changes itsresistive properties even with small applications of pressure or bendingwhich can then be detected by for example applying a charge across theconductive ABS material and measuring any change in electrical potentialas an indication of guest 1 presence, where it is possible to forexample use the conductive ABS along a fulcrum point underneath a seat(or similar resting area) such that as the guest 1 (the load) places adownward force upon the seat (the fulcrum) undergoes significantpressure as the seating structure applies an opposing upward force(effort) and where this pressure effects at least the resistivity of theconductive material which then is easily measured by applying a voltagealong the fulcrum axis all as will be well understood by those familiarwith both mechanical and electrical engineering as well as conductivepolymers, or 3) using air pressure detectors similar to technologyproduced by Sensor Products, Inc. of Madison, N.J., whose “TactilusTechnology” employs a “unique air bladder based sensor” to detect andmeasure pressure between any two contacting or mating surfaces, whereexisting products include a golf glove with one bladder on each fingerfor detecting grip pressure from a golfer's hand on a golf club, andwhere these same air bladders could be placed on any of seat 50 a areasexpected to undergo pressure from a guest 1 for sufficiently detectingtheir presence. What is most important is not the particular sensingmethod, but the use of a sensing apparatus ultimately activated by theapplication of force by a guest 1, such as by fluctuations in standing,walking, sitting, etc., as herein described, and therefore thetechnology herein discussed as preferred or alternative embodimentsshould be considered exemplary rather than limitations of the presentinvention.

Still referring to FIG. 6b , the second important variation between seat50 a and 50 b is that seat pressure sensor 14-1 that includes a single“on/off” sensing area for seat 50 a, has been sub-divided intoindividual area detectors such as 14-3-1, 14-3-2, 14-3-3, 14-3-4,through 14-3-17 (collectively 15) for bench seat 50 b, where each areaprovides its own “on/off” signal. What is important to understand isthat pressure fabrics and mats such as prior described from Kwang andPlug&Wear can create a single pressure “map” of an entire surface suchas bench seat, without sub-divisions, such that the individual map ofpressure is spatially calibrated to the entire area of the bench seat(i.e. the entire area encompassed by sub-divisions 14-3-1 through14-3-17) where the map is interpretable as guest 1 locations across theentire bench area. As will be well understood by those familiar withbench seat rides, without guest restraints it is possible that a singleguest 1 may occupy a space directly next to a second guest 1 such thatthe exact locality of two guests may be difficult to identify. As willbe well understood by those familiar with object tracking systems andsoftware, using pre-knowns such as typical guest side-to-side width(e.g. 17-18 inches) it is possible to digitally sub-divide a single mapinto rough approximations of guest 1 locations. Another approach is touse coincident information for example as determined by pressure sensors12 in the floor area where the guest 1's feet are expected to rest.While during a typical amusement ride, it is possible that: 1) a smallguest's 1 feet do not touch the floor, or 2) a single guest's feet areat any time lifted or resting on a rail off the floor, such that ineither case the detection of possible feet location is not continuous(whereas the detection of the seat, such as 14-1, or back rest area,such as 14-2, is expected to indicate continuous guest 1 presence) it isnon-the-less noted that while a guest 1 is moving to their seat, therewill be detectable floor pressure (from the guest 1's feet) that can beused to laterally bound an area detected on the seat or back restpressure map, such that the presence of two feet generally limit theleft-right bounds of the pressure map thus serving to indicate amore-or-less centered location for each guest 1 in a situation withguest 1 placement is not restricted to sub-sections of the bench seat.

Another approach is to sub-divide the entire continuous movement area ofthe bench into sub-divisions such as 14-3-1 through 14-3-17, where eachsub-division might then measure a collective total pressure across itsentire sub-division surface, and where the total pressure of neighboringsub-areas is indicative of the centering of individual guests 1 as thepressure they exert on the seat will tend to decrease towards thelateral edges. Another advantage to measuring “on/off” pressure persingle sub-division such as 14-3-4 as opposed to an entire bench areapressure map is that the expected sophistication of pressure sensing andcorresponding circuitry and data processing requirements can be lowered,all of which is important to both cost and system servicing. Regardingthe concept of a full-area pressure map, it is also useful to understandthat the existing pressure mats such as from Kwang can be modeled ashaving a row/col (e.g. long axis/short axis) resolution, similar to acamera sensor that forms an image. For example, a given pressure sensorimplemented as 14-1 in seat 50 a or 14-3-15 in seat 50 b may provide a“high resolution” pressure map, e.g. such as 500 horizontal×500 verticalpressure points, or a binary output for the entire surface 14-1 or14-3-15, such as “0”=sufficient pressure not detected to “1” sufficientpressure detected. As will be obvious to those skilled in sensors andsoftware systems, the resolution of a sensor needs to be best matched tothe needs of the system and as such, these combinations should beconsidered as exemplifications and not limitations of the presentinvention as many alternatives are possible and useful.

Still referring to FIG. 6b , it is also possible that bench seat 50 bhas for example a single set of receiver detectors 18 b-1 and 18 b-2capable of sensing multiple guests entering the seat 50 b from an “enterdirection.” As will be obvious to those skilled in the art of theme andamusement parks, it is often the case that rides are loaded from oneside and unloaded from the opposite (“exit direction”) side. In thisexample, a single pair (or even just one detector such as 18 b-1 or 18b-2) is sufficient for detecting each guest 1 as they proceedsingle-file to take their seats, then resting upon some sections such as14-3-4 or 14-3-15 (or equivalent area in a full bench seat pressuremap.) Whether the bench seat 50 a is sub-divided into 17 segments asdepicted or left as a single “high resolution” seat such as 14-1 isimmaterial, what is important is that first guest(s) 1 are identifiedusing their RFIDs (such as wearable 16 but not limited to a particularform such as an anklet) and then positioned at a specific location ofseat 50 b. As will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art ofpark rides, typically multi-seat rides are physically divided such thatthere are only a few possible locations (e.g. bench 50 b might bedivided into 4 individual seats (such as 50 a) all side-by-side as anintegrated unit, but each with its own guest 1 restraints. In that case,using one pressure sensor such as 14-1 on each of multiple seats ispreferable, where also using only one set of detectors 18 b-1 and 18 b-2to identify guests as they enter the multi-seat ride is preferred, sinceafter entering the guests must take seats in the first to last order,possibly skipping a seat if for example only 3 guests are being loadedinto a 4-seat ride.

As will be discussed further with respect to upcoming FIGS. 8a and 8b ,it is also possible and preferable that the arrangement of detectors 18b-1 and 18 b-2 for uniquely identifying guests 1 as they enter a singleor multi-seat ride, are affixed to a ride platform rather than the rideseat. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art of theme parkrides, this reduces the total number of detectors 18 b-1 and 18 b-2necessary since a single detector arrangement can then serve a singlerow of ride seats within any of a multiplicity of ride cars (where eachride car typically includes multiple rows of ride seats.) Hence, ifthere are 5 total ride cars, each with 6 rows of 4 ride seats, requiringa set of one or more detectors such as 18 b-1 or 18 b-2 for eachindividual ride seat (therefore attached within each ride car seat)would yield a total of 120 sets of detectors, whereas requiring one setfor each row of each ride car (therefore attached on the enteringdirection side of each ride car row) reduces the total to 30 detectors,whereas moving the set of detectors off the ride cars and onto e.g. theplatform servicing the ride car results in only 6 sets of detectors.Moving the detectors 18 b-1 and/or 18 b-2 off the ride cars also reducesthe sophistication of the electronics on each individual ride car, aswill be appreciated by those familiar with ride car construction. Inthis alternate embodiment, since the detectors 18 b-1 and 18 b-2 wouldbe serving multiple ride cars, the present invention is further adaptedthrough any of well-known means to detect the ride car (e.g. ride car01, 02, 03, 04 or 05) that is presently located next to detectorsaffixed to the loading platform, such as 18 b-1 and 18 b-2. Using suchan arrangement, guests 1 entering from the loading platform onto adetected specific car into for example any 1 to 6 possible rows ofseats, may be detected and uniquely identified. After each guest 1 isdetected entering a specific car row (e.g. row 05) on a specific ridecar (e.g. car 03) using any of the detection means herein specified,guest 1 is detected as sitting in any of for example 1-4 possible seatsin the car row (e.g. seat 1.) With respect to the exemplary theme andamusement park ride use case, what is important to understand is thecombination of possible apparatus and methods herein disclosed thatdetect and determine information providing the unique ride car, rownumber and seat number in association with guest 1 tracking number/ID(as well as any associated information.)

Referring next to FIG. 7a , there is shown ride car 50 b of FIG. 6b thathas been further adapted to include one or more cameras 54, e.g. in alinear array such that there is one camera facing each of the pre-knownseat areas within ride car 50 b. As will be appreciated by those skilledin the art of theme parks and amusement rides, by determining whichunique guest 1 is in which unique ride car, seat row and seat, as priordiscussed, it is then also possible to track the movements of each ridecar 50 b along its guided rail apparatus, of which there is known amultiplicity of solutions all mandatory for ride safety and performance,any of which are sufficient for the teachings of the presentapplication. What is important is that the ride system, knowing whereeach ride car is on the guided rail system using its own or furtheradapted position sensor(s) 52, can capture images of individual guest(s)1 in their detected and known seats at least timed with special effects56 a or particular points on the ride where the guest(s) 1 areanticipated to perceive increased interest or excitement. As will alsobe well understood, some of these particular points such as 56 a may bein darkened areas, where infra-red imaging may be advantageous. Thepresent invention anticipates any type or configuration of cameras 54and what is most important is that these cameras capture images of aparticular guest 1, preferably for transmitting to the photo-videorepository 40 b (see FIG. 2) where the images or video remain inassociation to at least the unique tracking number detected andassociated with the particular guest 1.

Referring next to FIG. 7b , there is shown free-floating ride car 50 c,such as a circular raft floating along a water path at a theme oramusement park. What is different about ride car 50 c as opposed to 50 bincludes: 1) even if free-floating ride car 50 c is boarded one guest 1at a time, guests 1 may move amongst the car seats choosing them in anysequence, and not necessarily in order as with ride car 50 b, thereforedetecting individual guest(s) 1 requires sensing final seating positionsusing for example seat pressure sensors 14-1 as well as guest identitiesusing combination pressure sensor and exciter mat 20 in furthercombination with one or more detectors 18 b, where the arrangement forseating positions and detected wearables 16 on guests 1 providesinformation combinable for determining which guest 1 is sitting in whatride car 50 c seat, 2) free-floating ride car 50 c is not attached to aguided rail system as used with ride car 50 b and therefore preferablyincludes unique fiducials either present in the existing structure andappearance of the car 50 c, or as added or affixed to ride car 50 c suchas ride car marker 50 c-m, where the preferably existing structurefiducials or added ride car markers 50 c-m are detectable by one or moretracking cameras such as 55-1, 55-2 and 55-3 situated along andcalibrated with the ride car 50 c's potential route, and where thedetected fiducials or markers 50 c-m are translated into sufficient 3 dlocations and orientations of ride car 50 c and therefore as well alllocations and orientations of guests 1 detected and known to be seatedat fixed locations within ride car 50 c, as will be well understood bythose familiar with object tracking systems, and 3) special effects suchas 56 b (in this case a water emitter) are positioned at known pointsalong the possible ride path of free-floating car 50 c but are thenpreferably timed by the tracking of the free floating car 50 c using thetechniques prior mentioned in (2), such that for example they emit wateronly at certain times selected to splash onto one or more selectedguests 1, where the guests 1 are selected by first determining that theywill be within the emission range of the water effect and then secondalgorithmically choosing to emit water so as to splash a selected guest1 and then also to preferably capture an image or video of the moment ofsplashing using any of cameras 54, where the photos or videos are thentransmitted to photo-video repository 40 b (see FIG. 2.)

Still referring to FIG. 7b , as will be well understood by those skilledin the art of RFID systems and data analysis of detected RFID signals,pressure maps and other sensors, there are several key variables to beunderstood and adjusted to the particular construction and needs of ridecar 50 c at least including any one of, or any combination of: a) thephysical construction of each antenna for emitting an exciter signalthat can be altered to shape the spatial volume of the exciter signal,b) the power provided to each antenna that can be varied to alter theshape of the spatial volume of the exciter signal, c) the arrangement ofa multiplicity of antennas that can be altered so as to create acombined spatial volume for encompassing some or all the threedimensional space within which a guest 1 wearable 16 is expected to passthrough or remain within for a given ride duration, d) the timing foractivating each individual antenna within the multiplicity of antenna,e) the trigger for the timing of activation including any one orcombination of: i) in unison across all antennas and synchronous at afixed rate per second, ii) individuated at a fixed rate, where eachindividuated antenna is activated alone or in synchronicity with otherantennas by not all antennas, and iii) in response to other signals suchas but not limited to: 1) detection by a pressure sensing mat such as14, 14-1, 14-2, 2) detection by any existing theme park ride sensors, orany of well-known sensors further adapted to a park ride, where theexisting or adapted sensors indicate any of the ride car statesincluding; a car has stopped, is being boarded, is fully boarded, is inmotion, or is being disembarked, f) the degree of overlap of any twospatial volumes as emitted by any two antenna within the multiplicity ofantenna, and g) the comparison of wearable “chirp” response signalsreceived simultaneously or sequentially by any one or more detectors 18b, where the comparison results in the locating of a wearable 16 to bewithin one or more spatial volumes corresponding with one or moreantennas, where each spatial volume is relatable to a position andideally ride seat within a ride car such as 50 b or 50 c. As priormentioned and as will also be well understood, there is no technologicalrequirement that the emitted exciter signals come from mat 20, as thesesame signals may also be emitted by a further adapted detector 18 b.Furthermore, any of the prior related key variables or similar as wellknown by those skilled in the art of the various technologies, may beadjusted such that on any given ride car configuration, such as 50 b or50 c, the variables optimize the efficient and cost-effective locatingof guests 1 to car seats while meeting the system requirements and needsof the venue without departing from the scope of the present invention.With respect to the key variables and whether the exciter signals areemitted by further adapted detectors 18 b or mat 20, any suchpreferences of the present invention should be considered as exemplarilyrather than as a limitation.

Still referring to FIG. 7b , as prior discussed, pressure sensing mat14-1 either encompasses the entire seating area of a car such as 50 b or50 c, providing a pressure map for calibration and guest 1 locationinterpretation as prior discussed, or is sub-divided into individuatedseats, such as 50 a that each have their own guest restraint, or isotherwise sub-divided or limited into sub-seat sections like theteachings of 14-3-1 through 14-3-17 of FIG. 6b . As depicted in relationto ride car 50 c, sensors 18 b for sensing the unique guest 1 identityfrom e.g. an anklet wearable such as 16 may be in any sufficientarrangement, including a central and circular arrangement of detectors18 b as depicted, where it is important to understand that combined mat20 (comprising a multiplicity of individually controllable antenna)emits exciter signals while the multiplicity of detectors 18 b receive“chirps” from the guest 1's tracking RFIDs as implemented in any form inresponse to the signals for interpretation as to the location andseating of guest 1, and where the multiplicity of signal emittingantennas (either located within mat 20 or further adapted detectors 18b) and signal receiving detectors 18 b are controllably activated eitherin unison or in any individualized sequence for searching the ride carsuch as 50 b or 50 c for the location of wearables 16 in associationwith any other information such as pressure maps providing by anypressure sensors including within mat 20 on a ride car floor, orpressure sensors 14-1 or 14-2 affixed on a ride seat or back restrespectively.

Still referring to FIG. 7b , detectors 18 b may either: 1) cause allantenna to simultaneously emit signals, or 2) cause one or more antennasto selectively emit signals in some sequence. For simultaneously emittedsignals, all RFID wearables 16 chirp in response at substantially thesame time and the multiplicity of detectors 18 b are then able toanalyze the received chirps in combination with the pressure mapsprovided by combined floor mat 20 and seat pressure sensor 14-1. Thesimultaneously emitted signals and therefor received chirps, along withthe receiving of pressure maps from mat 20 and sensor 14-1, may beemitted and received in any timing sequence, such as but not limited to:a) continuously at some rate per second, starting at least before guests1 are expected to enter the ride car (such as 50 c) continuing at leastup to the time when all guests 1 are detected or indicated to be seatedand secured, and optionally continuing throughout the entire rideduration, or b) at a fixed or limited set of times, where a fixed timemight be the time when all guests 1 are detected or indicated to beseated and secured. The present inventor notes that the presentinvention provides several ways of determining when guests 1: a) beginboarding a ride car such as 50 b or 50 c, b) are finally seated andsecured, c) the ride has commenced, d) the ride has completed, e) guestsare disembarking the ride car and f) the ride car is empty of guests 1,other solutions of which are possible and combinable with the presentteachings. Any apparatus and methods are sufficient for combininginformation with the herein taught apparatus and methods at leastincluding RFID detectors 18 b, combination mat 20 and seating mats 14-1.

Referring to both FIGS. 7a and 7b , as will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art of theme and amusement park rides, there are manyways of interacting with guests 1 while they are on either a guided ridesuch as car 5 b, a free-floating car 50 c, or a free-ranging car (suchas a go cart on a race track being self-directed by the guest 1) wherethese ways include controllably emitting any one or, or any combinationof: water (such as device 56 b) air, heat, light (such as device 56 a)sound, scent, etc., all of which may be actuated, timed, and otherwisecontrolled using any of the information described herein especiallyincluding the ongoing tracked position of a guest 1, within a trackedride car such as 50 b or 50 c, with respect to the pre-known location ofthe effect, all as will be well understood by those skilled inautomation systems.

For example, with respect to floating car 50 c, the present inventoranticipates: 1) equipping each seat with some form of indicator lightssuch as LEDs that are plainly visible to the guest(s) 1, 2) tracking thelocation of the ride car 50 c for example using cameras such as 55-1,55-2, 55-3 and one or more markers 50 c-m or natural ride car 50 cfeatures, such that an algorithm predicts which of the seats within theride car 50 c is most likely to get water dumped upon it by an upcomingwater effect 56 b, 3) continually activating the lights on the mostlikely seat as the ride car 50 c proceeds down the waterway, 4) makingsome additional indication such as perhaps illuminating more LEDs orflashing the LEDs on the most likely seat as the water effect draws 56 bnear, and 5) providing a countdown clock with a short amount of time anda button to press for each guest 1 in the ride car 50 c for indicatingthat an extra amount of water should be output by water effect 56 b,such that the guest(s) 1 in the car 50 c are effectively voting on howmuch water to dump on the most likely seat and therefore guest 1, where:a) the countdown is timed to end a certain short amount of time beforethe car 50 c reaches the water effect 56 b, and b) in that short amountof time after the countdown has expired and therefore after guest(s) 1have indicated and can no longer change their indications, the ride car50 c may still randomly reposition such that a different seat than themost likely seat is actually the one that gets water dumped upon it andtherefore the guest 1 sitting in it.

As the careful reader will see, there are a significant number ofpossibilities for this type of guest-ride interactivity that is enabledby the many novel features of the present invention to support trackingof an individual guest 1 in a known seat as a ride car is tracked alongits ride path, whether the car is guided, free-floating, orfree-ranging. What is important to note is that the ride effects can befurther individualized to the guest 1 using any one of, or anycombination of: 1) determining the guest(s) 1 path with respect to aride effects, 2) retrieving additional guest information such as but notlimited to the guest name for providing to a ride effect for output, 3)accepting real-time indications (such as pushing a button) from a gueston the ride for providing to a ride effect, 4) receiving informationfrom a venue database such as eco-system 40 regarding the state of apark-wide game for which one or more of the guest(s) 1 is involved,including the status and points of an involved guest 1, and 5) alteringthe direction, timing, or quantity of output from a given effect basedupon any of (1), (2), (3) and (4). Ride effects are understood to belongto the general category of venue effects devices, where venue effectsdevices include any automated or otherwise controlled device foroutputting any one of, or any combination of light, sound, water, air,vibration, etc., where the venue effect device is either: a) permanentlyaffixed to a venue structure or fixed or movable asset, where theaffixed device is electronically and controllably movable in zero ormore degrees of freedom, or b) free-floating under wireless control formoving the effect device to any number of positions and orientationswith respect to the guest, where free-floating effect devices includesdrones.

Regarding the use of the status and points from a park-wide game of aguest 1 on a ride to alter a ride effect, the prior example could beenhanced by: 1) providing a ring of squirting devices centered in thecar 50 c such that one squirting device is pointing at each seat in theride, 2) determining if the guest 1 in the seat that is calculated to bepositioned to have water dumped upon it from effect 56 b has a certainstatus or points, and 3) if the guest 1 in the positioned seat hassufficient status or points, then causing the water effect 56 b to notdump water on the positioned guest while then also causing each guest 1in another seat to be squirted if that guest 1 also had prior selectedto dump additional water on the positioned guest 1.

Referring next to FIG. 8a , there are depicted three guests 1 a, 1 b and1 c entering a ride car 50 d, where guests A, B and C pass through anexciter field 20 ef in succession prior to boarding the car 50 d, theprocedure herein being referred to as “serial car loading.” Guest 1 ahas wearable 16 in a wristband form, guest 1 b has wearable 16 in ananklet form and guest 1 c has wearable 16 in a lanyard form, where allwearables 16 include a preferably passive RFID for detecting by thecombination of exciter mat 20 and detector 18 b. As prior mentioned, allforms of wearable 16 are acceptable for use with the present invention.Also, as prior mentioned, while FIG. 8a depicts exciter field 20 ef asbeing emitted from mat 20 underfoot of guests 1 a, 1 b and 1 c, thissame field 20 ef could be emitted by any arrangement of one or morefurther adapted detectors 18 b for instance projecting field 20 ef fromthe side or even from above guests 1 a, 1 b and 1 c as they begin toboard car 50 d, all as is well known in the art. Unlike ride cars 50 band 50 c, ride car 50 d is shown as not including either a combined mat20 or a pressure sensor mat like 14-1 or 14-2 placed upon the floor ofthe ride car 50 d, and as such ride car 50 d is not equipped to trackthe footsteps of guests 1 a, 1 b and 1 c as they enter, walk through andsit down within car 50 d. However, ride car 50 d does include pressuresensors such as 14-1 (using any technology all as previously discussed)adapted to each of a multiplicity of available seats, for example “SEAT01,” “SEAT 02,” “SEAT 03,” and “SEAT 04.” Each seat in ride car 50 d isalso viewable by an onboard camera such as 54, where camera 54 isdepicted as having a field-of-view substantially limited to a singleseat, SEAT 02. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art ofcameras and camera systems, any one or more cameras may be adapted withthe proper lenses for viewing any of the one or more seats such as SEAT01, SEAT 02, SEAT 03, and SEAT 04. What is most important is that whenusing cameras 54, either through physical arrangement and/orcalibration, each of the multiplicity of ride car 50 d seats isassociated with some or all pixels in images captured by any one or morecameras 54, such that each of a ride car such as 50 d seats eithersubstantially comprise the entire captured image or comprise somecropped portion of the captured image, where the captured images serveeither or both of two distinct purposes including: 1) determining when aguest 1 such as 1 a, 1 b or 1 c, enters, sits, stands or exits a seatsuch as SEAT 01, SEAT 02, SEAT 03, and SEAT 04, or 2) capturing one ormore images of guest 1 while in e.g. SEAT 03 during their ride, eithertime with ride effects, locations, sensations, etc. or upon guest 1actuation, e.g. when they push a “selfie-button,” where the capturedimages are then preferably uploaded to photo-video repository 40 b,wherein FIG. 2 refers to this apparatus and functionality as spottracking and photo system 60.

The present inventor anticipates that a guest-couple in adjacent carseats such as SEATs 02 and 03 will press the selfie-button in their ridecar, for example while they are kissing, and that after the ridecompletes and the guests 1 disembark, they are sent proofs of theseself-activated pictures to their venue app 2 a that vibrates with anotification. The guest's 1 then decide using their venue app 2 a ifthey would like to have immediately printed copies of their selectedpictures, for example in a wallet sized format, that they can pick up inthe shop associated with the ride or similar. This functionality is likethe enjoyment people receive using a carnival picture booth as will bewell understood by those familiar with amusement parks. The presentinventor notes that the proofs are communicated to the guest 1 throughthe venue app 2 a, and as such are not yet stored in the common photoarea of the guest 1's cell phone. If the guest 1 chooses to purchase thepictures after viewing the proofs, the venue app 2 a for example allowsthe guest 1 to choose: 1) a digital format where the pictures are thensaved on their cell phone in the common picture folder, and/or 2) aprinted form such as the wallet sized format prior mentioned. If theguest 1 chooses not to purchase the pictures, then it is possible thatthe venue app 2 a at some point automatically deletes the proofs frominternal storage on cell phone and venue app 2 a.

The present inventor anticipates that the venue app will automaticallycharge the transaction according to the billing information provided inassociation with either of the guests 1 in the photo, and preferably theguest who is sitting in the seat associated with the pushedselfie-button. It is further possible for the present system to onlyenable the selfie-buttons in front of guests 1 who have included theirbilling information or in some way arranged for payment, all of whichcan be known to the venue database 40 a and available as informationwithin a ride car after the ride car has detected the presence and/orfinal seat of the guest 1, where the enabled selfie-buttons are forexample indicated by lighting them up.

Still referring to FIG. 8a , as first guest A 1 a, passes throughexciter field 20 ef, their tracking number is read off the extendedrange data on wearable 16 after which guest A will proceed to and selecta seat, typically selecting that seat farthest away from the carentrance, in this example SEAT 01. Even if the second guest B 1 b passesthrough exciter field 20 ef, boards ride 50 d, and sits in a seat beforeguest A, it is generally not possible for guest B to get in front ofguest A such that guest B sits in a seat (like SEAT 01) that is fartheraway from the ride car entrance than the seat guest A ultimatelyselects, all as will be well understood by those skilled in the art oftheme and amusement park rides. Typically, with serial car loading, eachnext guest A, B and C enter in sequence, select seats in sequence, wherethe selected seat is the first available seat farthest away from theride car entrance. In this example, in order to successfully associate adetected tracking number from a wearable 16 with a ride car seat such asSEAT 01, SEAT 02, SEAT 03, and SEAT 04, all that is required isadditionally determining which seats are ultimately occupied afterboarding and prior to the start of the ride, and then to assign thoseoccupied seats to the guests 1 in order of the farthest unassigned seatfrom the entrance associated with the next guest in order of entry ontothe ride car 50 d. For example, if sensors such as 14-1 or 54 determinethat SEAT 01, SEAT 03 and SEAT 04 are occupied, while SEAT 02 is not,then with serial car loading guests A, B and C are assigned to theoccupied seats 01, 03 and 04 in order, therefore A sits farthest away inSEAT 01, B sits next farthest away in SEAT 03 and C sits next farthestaway in SEAT 04, all as will be well understood by those familiar withtheme and amusement park rides.

In order to detect seat occupation, the present invention has disclosedseveral apparatus that may be used individually or in any combination,including: 1) seat sensors 14-1 using any technology and form forcovering any sufficient area of a given seat for engaging guest 1, wherethe sensor is activated at least in part by the downward pressure of theguest 1 sitting upon the seat, 2) feet pressure sensors 14 eithercombined into a mat 20 or implemented without exciter 12, using anytechnology and form for covering any sufficient area of the ride carfloor near to a given ride car seat for engaging guest 1, where thesensor is activated at least in part by the downward pressure of theguest 1 standing upon the floor in the sufficient area, 3) an imagingsystem analyzing images to detect the presence of guests 1 comprisingcamera(s) 54 for capturing images of ride car seat(s), or 4) any othersensor that changes state as a result of the physical presence of aguest 1 in a given seat.

Still referring to FIG. 8a , but now also in conjunction with FIG. 2,the present inventor notes that a preferred implementation of the spottracking and photo system 60 of FIG. 2 includes any combination oftechnologies for: a) detecting that guests 1 are boarding a ride car, b)optionally tracking a guest 1 as they approach any given seat, c)detecting that a guest 1 has entered or set down upon a given seat, andd) then directing a camera to take pictures of the guest 1 at any timethereafter up through the time at which the guest 1 disembarks,including directing in coordination with events timed and planned alongthe ride or directing at the request of the guest 1 sitting in the seat,as for example in response to pressing a “selfie-button” or making asound over a certain threshold. The present inventor also notes thatguest cell phone and venue app 2 a comprise guest 1 information such asa guest name, where it is also possible to include with the name a namepronunciation token(s), and that this guest name, pronunciation token(s)and or any other guest information desired by the venue can be uploadedby the device 2 a to the venue database 40 a for associating with agiven combination of ticket & tracking numbers. Also, as priormentioned, the parent patent of which the present patent is acontinuation-in-part, teaches that guest tracking is a part of a globaleco-system 40 and contributes critical guest tracking information insupport of a park-wide game.

While additional details of this teaching can be found in the parentpatent, the careful reader will note that if a guest 1 uploads to thevenue database 40 a personal information such as their name and eveninformation indicating how to best pronounce their name, thisinformation could then be made available to individual ride cars systemsas herein taught that are preferably tracking the on-going location ofeach guest 1 as they occupy a specific seat in a ride car and where theride car location is continuously tracked. The present inventionanticipates that the ride car system as described will use then use theguest 1 name information especially with pronunciation to audibly “callout” to a guest 1 at some moment along the ride, where the spot trackingand photo system 60 is timed in coordination with the ride car and “callout” moment to then also capture a photo or video of the guest 1. Thepresent inventor additionally prefers that this “call out” moment is apart of the park-wide game such that the call out includes a clue orotherwise some game information along with the guest 1's name.Furthermore, the present invention and parent patent together anticipatethat a “secret message” video is output along with the “call out” nameand clue, where the secret message is only seen by the guest 1 who iswearing special park glasses.

Regardless of whether the output video directed to the guest b is asecret message or publicly viewable, the video is preferred to bethemed, for example a character like Harry Potter, that is calling outto the guest 1 right at the moment that the photo system 60 is capturingan image. In another variation, the timing of any output image orotherwise at least the guest 1's name is coordinated with a specifictime on a ride, for example right before a major drop on a rollercoaster, such that the guest 1 is further surprised while they arealready in a heighted emotional state at the same time the image iscaptured. The present inventor notes that there are several companiessuch as Acapela Group of Belgium that offer services for creatingcustomized digital voices, where some real individual like DanielRadcliffe who played Harry Potter in the Harry Potter movie series, hastheir voice digitally mimicked such that this matched voice is thenusable for speaking out any text-to-speech. As is also well-known in theanimation industry, it is possible and preferably to have the animatedcharacter's mouth open appropriately to match their speech during thecall out, which is referred to as “lip-synching.” Furthermore, theoutput image is anticipated to optionally include at least the face ofthe guest as extracted from a guest 1 image uploaded via the cell phoneand venue app 2 a through which the guest was registered and confirmed.The extraction of the facial surface is a well-known image processingtechnique and is anticipated to be built into the venue app 2 a suchthat the guest sees and approves of the extracted facial surface(s)prior to uploading to the venue systems for use in any of the rideeffect devices that output images.

The present inventor anticipates that a feature of the preferredpark-wide gaming system includes displays that output video of animatedcharacters that respond directly to individual guest(s) 1 whilepotentially also coordinating with the spot tracking and photo system 60to capture an image of the guest(s) 1 during the times of this output,where the displays are preferably the dual image displays taught in theparent patent and the output video of the animated characters are whatthe parent patent referred to as “secret messages,” where otherwise thedisplay is any display, where the animated characters are preferablythemed to match the venue such as a theme park or theme park ride, wherethe animated characters preferably use a digital voice matching thevoice already known to the public for that character, where theanimation preferably uses a lip-synching method such that the charactersmouth movements coordinate with the characters spoken words including aguest 1's name, and where the display system uses information abouteither the guest 1's proximity to the display or any other guest 1tracking information all as taught herein or otherwise already known tothe marketplace for timing or an any fashion adjusting the animatedcharacter such that the guest 1 receives an individualized experienceincluding the output of the guest 1's own facial image.

There are then at least two ways to address audio messages to the guest1 while situated in their ride seat, before, during or after the ride,including: 1) audible messages emitted within the ride surroundings andtherefore heard by all guests 1 in a ride car, where the messages areemitted for example by animatronics or audio/video projections, or 2)audible messages emitted and largely confined to the ride seat andtherefore substantially heard only by the guest 1 in the ride seat,where the messages are emitting for example by small directionalspeakers situated near the guest 1's head in the ride seat. The presentinventor anticipates that a given guest 1 is engaging in a park widegame and while on the ride is given audible instructions to rememberwhat a certain animatronic or projected character says or does, and thatas soon as the guest 1 is detected leaving the ride their cell phone andvenue app 2 a vibrates and then asks them a question for which they mustprovide the answer, perhaps within a limited amount of time. As thecareful reader will see, many variations of gaming are possibleespecially when including the display technology of the parent patentthat teaches means for providing private visual message or images to anindividual guest wearing special park glasses.

Referring still to both FIG. 8a and FIG. 2, the present inventor notesthat in addition to the biometric ID type of “fingerprint” discussed indetail with respect to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a venue such as a theme parkmight also request either: 1) facial images captured using the cellphone and venue app 2 a, or 2) facial image meta data sufficient forsupporting facial image matching, where for example the meta data is aset of facial features for use in any facial recognition algorithm thatare extracted by the venue app 2 a during the analysis of a capturedfacial image of the guest, all as will be well understood by thoseskilled in the art. What is important to note is that the guest 1 duringthe registration step (see especially FIGS. 2 and 3) that is completedprior to entering the venue, captures and uploads to venue database 40 avia device 2 a either their facial images or preferably only the facialimage meta-data, such that any spot tracking and photo system 60 withinthe venue, for example as taught in FIG. 8a , can retrieve the set offacial images or facial meta data for each guest 1 detected as enteringin a given ride car, using for example the detected tracking number ofthe guest 1 wearable and then associating this with the guest 1 ticketnumber and therefore also biometric data. Using this information,cameras 54 in spot photo system 60, for example on the ride car 50 d,can determine or confirm each guest 1 in each ride seat by capturingcurrent facial images of the guest for facial recognition comparisonwith the set of facial images or facial meta data stored in the venuedatabase 40 a.

Referring next exclusively to FIG. 8a , tracking a guest 1 to aparticular seat in ride car 50 d has multiple solutions are hereindescribed. One alternate for serial car loading is to simply track guest1 footsteps using a pressure sensor 14 placed upon the floor of the ridecar 50 d, thereby obviating any need for seat pressure sensors 14-1 orcameras 54, at least cameras as used for seat occupancy detection. Asthe careful reader will note, as guests 1 A, B and C are detectedpassing through exciter field 20 ef, their feet may be tracked by apressure senor 14 in temporal sequence as each guest A, B and C walksdown the short aisle of the ride car 50 d to take a seat such as SEAT01, 02, 03 or 04. Since guests A, B and C cannot effectively pass eachother in their footsteps, it is a straightforward object tracking taskto follow the spatio-temporal sequence of pressure data creates by floorpressure sensor 14 and determine for example in front of which SEAT 01,02, 03 and 04 each guest A, B and C stopped at, all as will be wellunderstood by those familiar with software systems and especially objecttracking algorithms. Regardless of the method used for confirming aguest 1 has set upon a particular ride seat, these same sensors canprovide critical safety information for example by creating an alertsignal if any guest 1 attempts to or does leave their seat during theride, all as will be well understood by those skilled in the art oftheme and amusement parks.

Referring next to FIG. 8b , there are depicted three guests 1 a, 1 b and1 c entering a ride car 50 e, where guests A, B and C pass through anexciter field 20 ef in succession prior to boarding the car 50 e, theprocedure herein being referred to as “parallel car loading.” (Thepresent inventor notes that in some situations it is conceivable that aride car such as 50 e has multiple entry points for guests A, B and C,in which case each entry point would be equipped with one of the hereintaught apparatus and methods for detecting the extended data trackingnumber in wearable 16 worn by guests A, B and C as they cross any of theavailable entry points, where for example the apparatus and method areany of: 1) a detector 18 a or 18 b to detect an exciter field 20 efemitted by either of mat 12 or mat 20 respectively, or 2) a detector 18a or 18 b to detect an exciter field 20 er, where the detector 18 a or18 b is further adapted to also emit field 20 ef. As taught in relationto FIG. 8a , guest 1 a has wearable 16 in a wristband form, guest 1 bhas wearable 16 in an anklet form and guest 1 c has wearable 16 in alanyard form, where all wearables 16 include a preferably passive RFIDfor causing reflected “chirps” in response to the exciter field 20 ef.As prior mentioned, all forms of wearable 16 are acceptable for use withthe present invention. Also, as prior mentioned, while FIG. 8b depictsexciter field 20 ef as being emitted from mat 20 underfoot of guests 1a, 1 b and 1 c, this same field 20 ef could be emitted by anyarrangement of one or more further adapted detectors 18 b for instanceprojecting field 20 ef from the side or even from above guests 1 a, 1 band 1 c as they begin to board car 50 e, all as is well known in theart.

Still referring to FIG. 8b , like ride car 50 d, car 50 e preferablyincludes pressure sensors 14-1 on all SEATS 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 and 06,as well as one or more cameras 54 for observing and capturing images ofall SEATS 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 and 06. Unlike ride car 50 d as depicted,car 50 e also includes pressure sensor 14 on the floor of the ride car.As prior mentioned, seat pressure sensors 14-1 can be of any technologyand form. What is most important is that sensors 14-1 cover a sufficientarea of a given seat for engaging the guest 1, where the sensor isactivated at least in part by the downward pressure of the guest 1sitting upon the seat. Likewise, floor pressure sensors 14 use anytechnology and form, and what is most important is that sensors 14 coverany sufficient area of the ride car floor near to a given ride car seatfor engaging guest 1, where the sensor is activated at least in part bythe downward pressure of the guest 1 standing upon the floor in thesufficient area. Also, camera(s) 54 may be of any arrangement and withany lensing system, for example it is well known that a single camera 54could be placed in the center of ride car 50 e for simultaneouslyviewing all seats in car 50 e, where the single camera 54 is located ata sufficient height, pointed upward and equipped with what is generallyreferred to as a 360 degree lens, such as sold by several companiesincluding Sphere Optics Company of New Hampshire, and BubblePix ofLondon, England, all as will be well understood by those skilled in theart of camera systems. It is also possible to use a single cameraenclosure with multiple integrated sensors such as the “Ozo” sold byNokia, where this type of camera uses multiple sensors but outputs asingle image dataset and is typically used for VR systems, all as willbe well understood by those familiar with cameras and VR technology.Another arrangement of multiple individual cameras 54, each situated soas to view a single car seat, is as depicted in the present figure. Whatis most important is that an imaging system for analyzing images todetect the presence of guests 1 comprise camera(s) 54 for capturingimages of ride car seat(s), where for example the imaging system ispreferably spot tracking and photo system 60 of FIG. 2 that alsofunctions to take photos and videos of guest(s) 1 during their ride, allas prior taught in detail especially in relation to FIGS. 2 and 8 a.

Still referring to FIG. 8b , as will be evident from a careful readingof the present invention and especially FIG. 8a , what is most importantis that any of ride cars such as 50 a, 50 b, 50 c, 50 d and 50 esufficiently determines which of multiple possible guests 1 is sittingin multiple possible seats, for which many various apparatus and methodshave been herein disclosed. As the careful reader will also see, ridecar 50 e represents the most complex of all cars 50 a, 50 b, 50 c, 50 dand 50 e for making such a determination. Using the most complex ridecar 50 e as a representation of what apparatus and methods are useablefor identifying and associating a guest 1 with a car seat on allpossible ride cars, car 50 e as depicted could perform this necessaryand sufficient determination using a guest boarding detection system foridentifying guests 1 as they board the ride car, for example mat 20 anddetector 18 b or its alternatives, combined with any one of, or anycombination of the following preferred solutions for determining thefinal guest-to-seat association including: 1) seat (or back rest)pressure sensors 14-1 (or 14-2 respectively) for determining when aguest 1 sits upon a given seat and floor pressure sensors 14 fortracking an identified guest 1 to the given seat, such that the lastknown guest to be present in front of a seat when it is sat upon is theguest 1 assigned to the seat, 2) floor pressure sensors 14 for trackingan identified guest 1 to a given seat and sensor means for identifyingthat the ride car 50 e is loaded and therefore all guests 1 are seated,such that the last known seat to which a given guest 1 was tracked isthe seat that guest 1 is assigned to, or 3) an imaging system such asspot tracking system 60 comprising some arrangement of camera(s) 54 forcapturing images of seats 1 and performing facial recognition toidentified guest(s) 1, where the short list of tracking numbers ofguest(s) 1 located within the ride car as determined by the car boardingdetection system is used to retrieve from venue database 2 a pre-storedfacial images or preferably facial meta-data regarding each of thepossible guest(s) 1 for use in performing facial recognition andtherefore final guest-to-seat association.

Still referring to FIG. 8b , regarding the use of floor pressure sensors14 for tracking the movement of an identified guest 1 as they board andwalk about in a ride car such as 50 e, as will be clear to those skilledin the art of object tracking, it is beneficial to understand that thefoot pressure data is spatio-temporal in nature. Using thisunderstanding it is possible to connect each next foot step of a firstentering guest A, B or C with their prior footstep, especially whenunderstanding that second entering guest B, C or no one respectively, isunlikely to enter between the feet of a first guest at the same time andplace. It is then possible to create a vector of points representing thespace and time sequence of a guest 1's footsteps, where the vectorultimately stops in front of a given SEAT 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 or 06 andcan therefore be interpreted as the guest-to-seat relationship.

As the careful reader will see, other combinations of the herein taughtapparatus and methods are possible for sufficiently determining thefinal guest-to-seat association, including for example using the imagingsystem 60 by itself without also using a guest boarding detection systemfor identifying guests 1 as they board the ride car, for example mat 20and detector 18 b or its alternatives. In this example, imaging system60 would capture facial images of each guest 1 sitting in a seat andthen use these one or more images to search the venue database 2 a ofknown guest 1 facial images in order to select the best match. Othersystem information could be used to further confirm a givensemi-recognized guest 1, where the given semi-recognized guest 1 is aguest 1 whose captured image from a camera 54 yields two or morepotential matches in the list of all guests 1 known to be at the park asfound in venue database 2 a. The other system information usable forconfirming a given semi-recognized guest at least includes any one of,or combination of: 1) checking other recognized and semi-recognizedguest(s) 1 also determined to be present or possibly presentrespectively on the car such as 50 e, so as to determine if any of theseother recognized or semi-recognized guests 1 are related to the givensemi-recognized guest and if a relationship is confirmed, selecting theone of the two or more potential matches for the given semi-recognizedguest 1 that is related to other recognized or semi-recognized guest 1,where guests 1 are considered to be related if they are found in thevenue database 40 a associated with any one of, or any combination ofthe same application ID, purchaser info, authentication code, groupcode, or other unifying datum, or in any way otherwise known withindatabase 40 a (or data relatable with database 40 a) to be visiting thevenue as a group, and 2) checking the last known location of a givensemi-recognized guest 1 and using some formula at least including theestimated time between the current ride car location and the last knownlocation to select a best match for the given semi-recognized guest 1from amongst the two or more potential matches.

Referring next to FIG. 8c , there is shown a flow chart reviewing thepreferred steps for associating a ride seat with a guest 1, where thedescription of each step in the flow chart is considered to beself-explanatory given the teachings thus far provided.

Referring next to FIG. 9, there is shown steps A through E when using animplementation of the present teachings for a business convention. InStep A, attendee 1 acquires a smart ticket 2 through any of severalmeans including: 1) in mail, 2) at kiosk, or 3) from venuehost-register. What is most important is the attendee 1 download thevenue app onto their cell phone, the combination forming 2 a, andpreferably that the venue issue either a paper ticket 2 b thatpreferably has been further adapted to include a passive RFID andtherefore extended range data 2 c-3 such that paper ticket 2 b can alsobe scanned by readers 6 at extended distances, all as previously taught(see Paper Ticket (C) in FIG. 4.) It is also possible that the venueissues an electronic ticket 2 c including both close range data 2 c-1, 2c-2 and extended range data 2 c-3 or 16, all as prior taught especiallyin relation to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. Step A can be done on or off thevenue premises. In Step B, attendee 1 performs self-registration asherein described especially in relation to FIGS. 2 and 3. Duringself-registration, the attendee 1 alternately provides a self-image forbiometric data as captured using the cell phone and venue app 2 a ratherthan, or in addition to providing their fingerprint. As previouslydescribed, this facial image of the attendee is the either transmittedto venue database 40 a as-is, or is first converted into facialmeta-data that is uploaded to database 40 a thus preserving attendeeprivacy. As will also be evident from a careful reading of the presentinvention although not presently depicted, while attendee 1 may performthis registration process on the venue premises, the attendee 1 iseffectively within a ZONE2 that is located outside of a venue pre-areaZONE3. Like Step A, Step B can be done on or off the venue premises.

Still referring to FIG. 9, in Step C attendee 1 is confirmed in avariation of the teachings with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3, where guest 1used cell phone and venue app 2 a to self-confirm by inputting andmatching their fingerprint. In Step C of FIG. 9, although not shown, isit imperative that attendee 1 not be able to pass through theconfirmation location (i.e. ZONE3 of FIG. 3) without actually beingconfirmed. As prior taught although not depicted in FIG. 9, Step C couldbegin by having attendee 1 scan their ticket such as 2 b in order topass through an access point 5 a-1 (see FIG. 3) for entering into ZONE3where confirmation is performed. In this case, it is also assumed thatZONE3 is confined and that the only way out for attendee 1 is toeither: 1) be successfully confirmed and then pass through the secondaccess 5 a-3 to enter the venue (ZONE4 of FIG. 3) or 2) exit ZONE3through an access point 5 a-2. However, in FIG. 9 the present inventoris teaching a variation of the description in FIGS. 2 and 3 with respectto ZONE3. Specifically, ZONE3 is the location of mat 12 and assumed tobe a chokepoint monitored by a venue staff member. In this case, allregistered attendees are lining up just prior to stepping onto excitermat 12. Once upon the exciter mat 12 the attendee stops, preferablyseeing a visual indicator such as a red light while possibly also beingwatched by the venue staff. Once stopped upon mat 12 that emits anexciter field, decoder 18 a receives RF reflections or “chirps” off theRFID on ticket 2 b detecting the unique attendee tracking number, all asprior taught herein. Using this unique tracking number, the venue systemthen retrieves either facial data or facial meta-data associated withthe attendee 1. The venue system then also directs camera 55 to imagethe attendee at least capturing their face for facial recognition usingthe either facial data or facial meta-data retrieved from the venuedatabase 40 a. Once confirmed, preferably the attendee sees a greenlight and then proceeds into the venue (ZONE4 74 of FIG. 3) with orwithout a venue staff watching the ZONE4 entrance chokepoint.

Still referring to FIG. 9 and Step C, the careful reader will note thatmat 12 for emitting an exciter field could also be a combined mat 20that also senses pressure and therefore the moment at which an attendeearrives for confirmation. Using this information, the exciter fieldcould then be selectively emitted once the arrival pressure is detected.As will also be understood, there are many alternate configurations forscanning extended range RFID as both prior discussed and as well knownin the art. For example, decoder 18 a can be further adapted to alsoemit the exciter field thus obviating the need for a mat 12 or 20, wherethe further adapted decoder 18 a could be in any proximate position withrespect to ZONE3 for scanning the attendee 1 including to the side orabove the attendee 1. What is most important is that the shape of theexciter field (depicted as 20 ef in FIGS. 8a and 8b ) is shaped in sucha way so as to cover only a limited area where the attendee 1 isdirected to stand during confirmation so as to avoid detecting multipleother RFID's from other attendees 1 presumably waiting nearby to also beconfirmed.

The careful reader will also note that mat 12 or 20 combined withdetector 18 a could be fully eliminated, where attendee 1 is for exampleusing their cell phone and venue app 2 a as a virtual ticket and is nototherwise wearing extended range readable data 2 c-3. In this case,during registration using device 2 a attendee 1 has uploaded theirfacial data or preferably meta-data to venue database 2 a to serve as a“template” such that when attendee 1 walks to or by camera 55 the systemcaptures their facial image and uses this to perform facial recognitionagainst all known templates in database 40 a, rejecting the attendee 1if an insufficient match is found. As those familiar with facialrecognition algorithms will understand, there are two basic conceptsreferred to as FAR and FRR. FAR is known as the “false acceptance rate”while FRR is known as the “false recognition rate.” False acceptance iswhen the system incorrectly authorizes a non-authorized attendee, due toincorrectly matching the facial image captured by camera 55 with atemplate found within venue database 40 a. Typically, this happensbecause the matching algorithm is not strict enough, and/or notconsidering enough facial features. In this case, by using a method foralso inputting the attendee 1's ticket number or tracking number, thissecond form of information can be used to ensure that the facialrecognition matches the facial data/template for the valid ticketnumber, thus reducing the FAR. As depicted in FIG. 9 and preferred, oneapparatus for collecting the tracking number to improve FAR is theexciter mat 12 (or 20) in combination with detector 18 a, or some priormentioned and well-known RFID reader alternative. Another apparatus fordetermining the ticket number (and not the tracking number) for exampleas printed on a paper ticket 2 b would be a scanning station that readsa bar code or QR code, where the attendee scans their paper ticket 2 bwhile also getting their facial image taken by camera 55, thecombination of which will lower the FAR rate. If the attendee 1 has anelectronic ticket 2 c, then a scanning station could also be providedusing a NFC reader, all a prior taught. What is most important tounderstand is that facial recognition alone will have a higher rate offalse acceptance than combining facial recognition with ticketvalidation, hence confirming that either a detected ticket number oftracking number known to be in the current possession of the attendee 1also matches the accepted facial recognition.

Still referring to FIG. 9 and Step C, false recognition is when thesystem incorrectly rejects access to an authorized person, due tofailing to match the facial image captured by camera 55 with thetemplate of attendee 1. Typically, this happens because the matchingalgorithm is too strict, and/or considering to many facial features. Asthose skilled in the art of facial recognition systems will understand,optimizing a system to minimize the FAR tends to increase the FRR, andvice versa. As those skilled in the art of biometrics will alsounderstand, and as will be understood by a careful reading of thepresent invention, by providing two forms of verification (i.e. both abiometric such as a facial scan of fingerprint) as well as a valid ID(such as a ticket number or tracking number) it is possible to lower theFRR rate by for instance relaxing the number of feature points that mustmatch for a given facial image as captured by camera 55 to be consideredas matching a template of the attendee associated with a scanned, validand matching ID (e.g. ticket number or tracking number.) The presentinventor also notes that in many instances facial recognition is highlydependent upon several factors including: 1) lighting differencesbetween when the template image(s) were captured and when theaccess-grant image is captured by camera 55, 2) changes to the attendeeface between when the template image(s) were captured and when theaccess-grant image is captured by camera 55, and 3) differences incamera settings and features including resolution, color representationand the pixel-to-facial area ratio between when the template image(s)were captured and when the access-grant image is captured by camera 55.The present inventor notes that the present teaching provides for thecell phone and venue app 2 a to use either the internal GPS or some LPSsuch as forming a Bluetooth connection at the venue (which is thereforewithin 30-100 feet) or a wi-fi positioning system, where either the GPSor LPS ensures that attendee 1 is within a ZONE2 that is on the venue'spremises and has sufficient light similar to the lighting that will beavailable at Step C for camera 55. The venue app 2 a will also ensurethat attendee 1 is registering within a certain amount of time prior toattempting to enter, for example 15-30 minutes. As those familiar withfacial recognition will understand, enforcing that as a part ofself-registration the attendee 1 scan their face on the same day and onpremises in the same lighting as camera 55 is expected to help reducethose prior stated negative factors that tend to reduce the accuracy offacial recognition. Therefore, while facial recognition alone ispossible for venue admittance checking, the present inventor prefers abiometric check combined with a ticket/tracking number check.

Furthermore, when using the biometric of a finger print as discussedespecially in relation to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the present inventionrequires a confined ZONE3 where the guest 1 uses their own cell phoneand venue app 2 a to verify that the currently entered fingerprintmatches the original fingerprint provided during registration. If thereis no match than the guest 1 must leave through a ZONE3 exit that forexample logs their attempt and also resets the status on their smartticket 2 from “LIVE” back to “REGISTERED.” In this prior teaching, theguest 1 can register at any time even within ZONE3 although it ispreferred that they register prior to ZONE3 in a ZONE1, all aspreviously described. However, when using the biometric of a facial scanas discussed in relation to the present FIG. 9, the present inventionuses a venue mechanism (i.e. camera 54) to confirm the attendee 1,rather than allowing the attendee to use their own cell phone and app 2a. In this case, what is preferred is that self-registration ZONE1(which can normally be anywhere including off premises at any timeincluding days before a venue event) is combined into ZONE2 (which isrestricted to on-premises, at least the day off the venue event if notwithin for example 15-30 minutes of entering ZONE3 for confirmation.) Asprior taught, the cell phone and venue app 2 a can be set by the venueas to when and where each ZONE 1, 2, and 3 activities of REGISTERING,ENABLING and CONFIRMING, respectively are allowed. By requiring that theattendee 1 register just prior and near to entering ZONE3 forconfirmation, where registering includes capturing a facial image, thefacial image is less likely to be affected by changes in at least theattendee's 1 face over time or lighting.

Still referring to FIG. 9 Step C, the present inventor anticipates thatthe venue app 2 a enforces ZONE1/ZONE2 self-registration and enablementfor a guest 1, where this guest 1 is only allowed to manage a singleticket with their cell phone and venue app 2 a. The guest 1 is stillpreferred to have at least a paper ticket 2 b, but in any case, a paperticket 2 b or electronic ticket 2 c that includes extended range datum,such as the tracking number. In this variation, ZONE3 that is normallyconfined, is now limited to only access point 5 a-3, as access point 5a-1 is removed such that any attendee 1 after self-registering in theZONE1/ZONE2 location as detected by the venue app, may then proceedfreely to a modified venue access point 5 a-3. Preferably, at modifiedaccess point 5 a-3 the guest walks up to and stands within an exciterfield (20 ef of FIGS. 8a and 8b ) such as emitted by a mat 12 or 20, orby a further adapted detector 18 a. Once standing within exciter field20 ef, which preferably is clearly marked, the attendees progressforward is block using any appropriate method including: 1) a red light,2) a mechanical device such as a turnstile that will not turn or a gatethat remains closed, or 3) a sign with instructions and a personstanding in watch. Regardless, once within the exciter field 20 ef, theattendee's 1 tracking number is read and this is used by the venue'saccess management system to determine the unique app ID of the venue app2 a running on the attendee's 1 cell phone, along with any otherappropriate device pairing information, such that the venue system thencaptures an image of the attendee with camera 55 which is transmittedeither as-is to the attendee's 1 venue app 2 a, or first converted tofacial meta-data by the venue system, where the meta-data is thentransmitted to the attendee's venue app 2 a, such that the venue app 2 athen performs the facial comparison and sends back a confirmationacceptance or rejection.

Still referring to FIG. 9 Step C, this last alternative off-loadsprocessing to the attendee's cell phone as well as maximizing theattendee's privacy, such that it is even possible that the camera 55 isset up as a shared network device that the venue app 2 a running on thecell phone automatically connects with and operates to capture aself-image, thus completely assuring that the attendee's facial image isnever stored as data on the venue's access management system.Alternatively, once the attendee 1 has stopped within the exciter field,an indication could then be given to attendee 1 to capture a self-imageusing their cell phone and venue app 2 a, where the indication could beany one of, or any combination of a visual or audible cue, but wherepreferably the attendee's cell phone 2 a vibrates and the venue appinstructs the attendee 1 to capture the self-image. After capturing, thevenue app 2 a confirms that the attendee's current facial image matchesregistration and is either confirmed or rejected.

What is most important to see is that the cell phone and venue app 2 aenforces that: 1) each attendee 1 self-registers in a ZONE1 or ZONE2prior to entering a ZONE3, where self-registration includes entering anyand all information requested by the venue within a controlled area at aset time, where the controlled area is known based upon the cell phoneand venue app's use of either GPS or LPS, and where self-registrationlocks a single ticket number/tracking number to a single attendee 1 andincludes capturing biometric information such as a facial image and/or afinger print, 2) each attendee stops at a specific ZONE3-to-ZONE4 accesspoint 5 a-3 (with or without passing through a ZONE2-to-ZONE3 accesspoint 5 a-1) where the extended range data from the attendee's paper 2 bor electronic ticket 2 c is automatically scanned providing the venueaccess management system with the attendee's 1 tracking number, 3)confirmation biometric data is received by the venue app for comparisonwith the biometric data entered during self-registration, where theconfirmation biometric data is preferably a self-image captured by theattendee standing within a ZONE3 access point 5 a-3 using their cellphone and venue app 2 a such that all personal and private data remainson the attendee's cell phone and venue app 2 a, 4) the venue app 2 aprovides confirmation to the venue access management system in somemanner including any of: a) updating the ticket status on an electronicticket 2 c that is then scanned by an NFC scanner within access point 5a-3, updating the ticket status within the venue app and thencommunicating this status electronically to the access point 5 a-3 orthe venue access management system for example using any communicationtechnology such as NFC, wi-fi or Bluetooth, and 5) the attendee 1 isthen prompted and/or allowed passage through access point 5 a-3 into thevenue (or sub-venue as the careful reader will understand.)

As the careful reader will also understand, if the attendee's ticket isfor a multi-day event, then the registration that happens on day 1 doesnot necessarily have to be repeated, and as such on each next day theattendee simply proceeds direction to confirmation at access point 5a-3. The present inventor anticipates a further variation where anattendee 1 acquires their paper ticket with extended range data (such asa UHF RFID) and then proceeds directly to an access point 5 a-3, withoutany requirements for pre-self-registration. Upon arriving at accesspoint 5 a-3 for the first time, 1) the system scans the extended rangedata RFID and transmits this tracking number through any wirelesscommunication means to the attendee's venue app 2 a, possibly along withthe associated ticket number as known to the venue that provided theticket to the attendee, 2) the venue app 2 a directs the attendee tocapture a self-image which is then used as the registration image andthe venue app then sets the ticket status to confirmed, and 3) theaccess point 5 a-3 allows the attendee 1 to pass into the venue. Everynext time the attendee desires to pass through another access point 5a-3, for example upon a next day of a conference or upon entering asub-venue such as an exclusive meeting or presentation room, they arestopped and the venue app 2 a either detects its location at accesspoint 5 a-3 using any of GPS or LPS technology, or the attendee's pathis blocked and the venue app 2 a is wireless connected to the accesspoint 5 a-3 and receives information that the attendee's tracking numberhas been scanned for possible admission, such that the venue app 2 athen prompts the attendee 1 to capture a self-image with then must matchthe image first captured and associated with the tracking number and/orticket number during self-registration.

Still referring to FIG. 9 Step C, the following variation of the presentinvention minimizes the technology costs required by the venue, theattendee gains access to a secured location that is manually staffed,where: 1) the attendee 1 either acquires a paper ticket and scans itsbar code or similar using their cell phone and venue app 2 a, orcompletes a wireless transaction and receives their ticket numberelectronically, where after in any approach their ticket number is helpas data within their venue app 2 a, 2) the attendee 1 then proceeds toany venue (or afterwards sub-venue) entrance that was prior taught as anaccess point 5 a-3 but is now simply a staffed entrance where no extraequipment such as access point 5 a-3 is required, 3) the attendee 1using the venue app 2 a captures a nearby posted image of a QR Code orsimilar representing a unique identification of the area into which theattendee is attempting to enter, 4) the venue app 2 a confirms usingeither internal information or information obtained through a wirelessconnection to the venue access system, that the attendee 1's ticketnumber stored within their cell phone and venue app 2 a permits accessto the secured area, and a) if access is permitted prompts the attendee1 to capture a self-image, where: i) if there is no self-image yetassociated with the ticket number than the venue app 2 a associates thisimage and sets the ticket status to “CONFIRMED,” or ii) if a self-imagehas already been registered to the ticket number than the venue app 2 aensures that the newly captured image matches the first self-registerimage prior to setting the ticket status to “COFIRMED,” and b) if accessis not permitted for the attendee's ticket number or if the attendee 1'scurrent image does not match a first registration image, than the ticketstatus is set to some other value than “CONFIRMED,” such as “DENIED,” 5)if the ticket status is set to “CONFIRMED” then the venue app 2 aoutputs the just captured image of the attendee 1 along with some visualindication of acceptance—for example a check mark or a boarder aroundthe self-image that is green, and 6) where the attendee 1 then holds uptheir cell phone and venue app 2 a displaying their image with thevisual indication of acceptance such that the staff member manning theentrance can visually confirm the attendee's acceptance and then allowsthe attendee to pass into the restricted area.

As the careful reader will see, rather than, or even in addition tocapturing the facial image, this same sequence can work using a fingerprint, where the final display of acceptance can be some set image, andwhere this set image may even be communicated to the venue app 2 a viaeither a wireless connection with the venue management system or asencoded for example within the secured areas QR code that was originalscanned in prior step (3).

Still referring to FIG. 9 and now Step D, once attendee 1 has passedconfirmation Step C and entered into the venue (ZONE4 74 in FIG. 3) itis preferred that the venue have various choke points for monitoring theflow of attendees 1. These chokepoints are essentially “transparent” toattendee 1 in that they do not realize that their extended range datafound on ticket 2 b or 2 c has been scanned. As prior discussed, thereare several herein taught variations for chokepoint RFID scanning andthese are similar to those technologies currently available in themarket place of detecting runners passing a chokepoint in a race, aswill be well understood by those skilled in the art of RFID systems.While it is possible to transparently track the attendee 1's cell phoneusing for example a wi-fi positioning system, these are problematic dueto the number of wi-fi nodes required and the resulting interferencepatterns created by the venue's permanent and temporary structures, suchas would be found in a large convention hall with many ad-hoc booths.Furthermore, while wi-fi position provides a current x, y location foreach attendee 1 within a certain accuracy, it is sufficient for manyanalytics to simple track the presence of an attendee 1 in a confinedlocation or passing a chokepoint. For example, the chokepoint of Step Dcould be an entry into a separate and confined conference room where atalk is to be given.

The present inventor also teaches that in a convention hall setting itis typical that a vendor is given some for example rectangular space. Asis eluded to in Step E, the present invention teaches that the entireperimeter of that rectangular space is monitored by extended range datareaders such that all attendees 1 entering and then ultimately exitingthe rectangular space (e.g. a vendor's booth) are detected, andtherefore the vendor may receive this and all related information foranalytics and sales purposes. Where the information minimally includeseach attendee with related information as collected by the venue app 2a, for example including name, company, title, etc. along with thedate/time of perimeter entry and exit. The present inventor additionallyprefers that the rectangular (or any geometric shape) area is coveredwith floor pressure sensors 14, such that all of the combined movementsof any attendees 1 walking and standing within a rectangular area (suchas a vendor booth, a venue information area, a venue store, etc.) arecaptured.

As will be well understood by those familiar with data analytics, thispressure map provided by mat 14 provides significant information forunderstanding traffic flow, such as which displays are causing attendeesto linger and for how long, how long an attendee 1 lingers to watch alive presentation, etc. It is also possible to sub-divide an area ofpressure sensor flooring 14 to be associated with or assigned to someactuated device for outputting some effect or information. For example,in a convention setting, the sub-divided area might be in front of adisplay showing company product information where the video being outputtypically loops continuously, as will be well understood by thosefamiliar with trade show booths. Using the present teaching, and forexample, if a video is looping and no attendees 1 are detected to bepresent, then when a next attendee is detected within the sub-divideddisplay area, rather than simply continuing the display loop as istypical, the loop could be reset back to the beginning. As the carefulreader will see, there are many possibilities for using the real-timepressure map, both with and without parameters for sensing attendee 1identity, in order to cause any controllable device to alter, redirect,restart, etc. its potential behaviors and outputs. The present inventorhas provided many examples for different types of pressure sensors, allof which are sufficient. What is most important is that an area is anyone of, or combination of: 1) monitored on its perimeter to detectattendee 1 ingress and egress by reading extended range data, and 2)monitored on its interior using floor pressure sensors.

Still referring to FIG. 9 and Step E, in U.S. patent Ser. No. 09/345,593entitled DEVICE FOR DETECTING PLAYING PIECES ON A BOARD, Bulsink teachesa matrix of transmit and receive coils for detecting resonance coilsplaced on the bottom of movable game pieces, where each resonance coilwas electronically distinguishable such that the system is able to trackeach game piece within the row/col squares of the matrix. The presentinventor prefers additionally including an inductive matrix 15 eitherbelow or above pressure sensor mat 14, where employees 1 e (such asworking for the venue or a vendor in the case of a trade show, etc.)wear passive resonance coils 15 c within or affixed to their shoes suchthat the coils 15 c are in sufficient proximity of inductive matrix 15so that they can be accurately sensed and located. As will be wellunderstood by those skilled in the art of at least conventions, thetracking of employee 1 e movements as provided by matrix 15 and coils 15c provides valuable data by itself and even more so when combined withthe attendee 1 tracking information provided by pressure mat 14 andchokepoint readers 12 and 18 a (or alternatives as herein taught.) Inthe case where the area to be tracked is for example limited only to theemployees, then matrix 15 and coils 15 c worn by employees, for exampleon the bottom of their shoes, is sufficient and hence pressure mat 14 isnot necessary. The present inventor anticipates that this type ofemployee movement tracking floor has many uses within industry andbusiness as this provides continuous information on the location of eachemployee that has many valuable uses. It is also possible for securityreasons that employees 1 e wear badges that are exactly like either ofthe paper 2 b or electronic ticket 2 c in functionality for restrictingand monitoring access to confined areas within a building. The employeeswould then use these badges to progress through any of ZONEs 2, 3 and 4as herein described for guests 1, where ZONE 1 can be inside or outsideof the venue/building premises and is necessary only at the times ofinitial registration or re-registration.

The present inventor notes that employees can also be mandated to carrya cell phone with venue app 2 a, essentially acting as a Virtual Ticket(B) (see FIG. 4) where they must then confirm their identity byself-inputting biometric data such as fingerprints and/or facial imageswithin and confined area ZONE3 prior to entering a restricted areaZONE4, all as will be well understood by a careful reading of thepresent invention. Such a system would also be beneficial for schools ormilitary compounds wherever unmanned security and transparent peopletracking is desired. The present inventor also anticipates that a modernstage for acting or otherwise choreographed performances would benefitby using at least matrix 15 and coils 15 c on the actor's feet, wherethis actor-tracking floor can then be used to both for practicing andperfecting choreographed movements and for example causing interactiveeffects, whereby the presence of an actor at a given location causes theactuation of a device, including lighting, sound, robotic curtains, etc.As those familiar with imaging systems will appreciate, this type ofpeople tracking is not susceptible to ambient lighting situations orocclusions, all of which have significant benefits.

Still referring to FIG. 9, using pressure sensor flooring 14 it isfurther possible to correlate the real-time location data of attendees 1with real-time activities taking place within a given tracked area, forexample including: 1) a live-recorded or pre-recorded presentation,where the presentation can be replayed along with a graphic depictingattendee 1 information such as but not limited to: a) how many attendeesare present, entering and exiting moment by moment during thepresentation, b) how long does the average attendee linger, additionallyas a function of when the attendee first arrives, c) where for thelive-recorded or pre-recorded presentation, statistics are created bydate/time along with total venue attendees that show attendee trafficand attention related to key moments in the repeating presentation,amongst other things describing how many attendees received a specificmessage, and d) how long do the attendees linger after a presentation.As the careful reader will see, the apparatus and methods taught hereinhave significant value for providing at least: 1) efficient self-serveand biometrically confirmed access to a venue and secured areas, 2)traffic and movement data throughout fixed confined areas and moveableconfined areas such as a vehicle or transport mechanism, and 3)individualized information about a guest/attendee 1 for causingautomatic responses by a venue output mechanism such as a display, soundsystem, actuated mechanism, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown a flow chart of a variation ofpresent invention as used in ZONE1 71, ZONE2 72, ZONE3 73 and ZONE4 74,where the variation adds more security to prevent ticket theft. All ofZONEs 71, 72, 73 and 74 remain as described especially in relation toFIG. 3, where the ZONEs represent physical areas positioned with respectto ZONE 74, the confined venue into which the guest 1 would like to gainunmanned access. As with the prior teachings, once a guest 1 has beenpermitted into ZONE 74, there may be additional sub-venues, andsub-sub-venues, etc. all as prior described, where essentially eachinterior, nested sub area is a confined space (representing a “ZONE 4”)through which a guest 1 must enter via a “ZONE 3.” Also, as priordiscussed, in the case where a theme park is a venue, an interior nestedsub area can be a ride, where the ride (i.e. “ZONE 4”) may be directlyaccessible without going through a “ZONE 3,” representative of a typicalride line, or may be accessed via a “ZONE 3,” representative of what isgenerally referred to as a “fast lane,” which requires an upgradedticket.

Still referring to FIG. 10, after a purchaser has purchased one or moretickets from a venue through any number of means including a venueweb-site, the venue app of device 2 a, or a physical venue guestservices counter, they must register these tickets, which the presentinventor refers to as a ZONE1 71 activity. The present invention hasspecified that all of ZONEs 71, 72, 73 and 74 have known geo-graphicareas and that by using either GPS or LPS a given cell phone being usedfor cell phone and venue app 2 a is able to determine in which ZONE theguest is located and to alter its functionality accordingly. ZONE1 71 isany geographic location outside of ZONE2, ZONE3 and ZONE4. As theflowchart indicates, the first step is to ensure that the guest 1's cellphone has been loaded with the venue app forming device 2 a ofsmart-ticket 2. As prior mentioned, the downloaded app will include aunique identifier that is preferably undetected and hidden from theguest 1. Regardless of how the tickets are acquired, eventually theguest 1 will receive the ticket(s) that are: 1) either paper ticket 2 b,electronic ticket 2 c, or a combination thereof, and 2) where eachticket minimally includes a ticket number that has been preferablyencrypted using the purchaser/guest 1's app ID. Once the guest 1 haspossession of their ticket(s), they “scan each ticket,” where scanninguses a camera if the ticket is paper ticket 2 b, or an NFC reader if theticket is electronic ticket 2 c. As the ticket is scanned, venue app ofdevice 2 a minimally receives the ticket number, and preferably also avenue authentication code.

Still referring to FIG. 10, if the venue ticket system is using anauthentication code, the next step is to determine if the ticket is“authentic?”, meaning that the ticket is from the venue and not acounterfeit. As those familiar in counterfeit protection system willunderstand, there are many well-known authentication techniques, such asfor printed tickets: 1) using both a QR code and a bar code, where thetwo are related through a guarded algorithm only known to the venue butaccessible or embedded within the venue app 2 a, where the QR code andthe bar code must match or have some defined relationship when processedby the venue app 2 a using the guarded algorithm, 2) using some form ofa unique image, hologram, etc. that is hard to reproduce but preferablycan be read and measured by the cell phone and venue app 2 a using thecell phone 2 a camera, or 3) using an on-line anti-counterfeitingservice such as prior discussed from a venue agent such as HewlettPackard or the venue itself. For electronic tickets 2 c, at leastmeasures (1) and (3) above may also be used, where if the ticket is acombined printed ticket 2 b and electronic ticket 2 c, at least measure(1) is increased in security by using the combination of paper scanningand NFC code scanning, all as will be well understood by those skilledin the art of anti-counterfeiting products. As will be well understoodby those familiar with ticketing systems, many venues do not use aticket authentication system and as such the authentication code asherein described along with this authentication check is optional andshould be considered as exemplary of the present invention, and not as alimitation.

Still referring to FIG. 10, assuming that the ticket is authentic, thenext step is to determine if the “ticket verifies?” and therefore thatthe ticket number is valid for the guest 1/app ID. There are at leasttwo ways of performing this check including: 1) having the venue app 2 amake an online connection with the venue database 40 a to verify thatthe received tickets coincide with the purchaser/guest 1 and/or the appID, and 2) having the venue app 2 a decrypt the ticket number using thehidden app ID as a key, where the decrypted ticket number must then forexample match a particular format or include an embedded code, where forexample the embedded code is, or is relatable to, the authenticationcode. Regardless of the method, once the ticket number is validated, itis added to an “internal ticket list” maintained by the venue app 2 a.Also, as prior mentioned the present inventor prefers that extendedrange data is included with either the paper ticket 2 b (e.g. by furtheradapting the paper ticket 2 b to include a flexible passive RFID) or theelectronic ticket 2 c (e.g. by including an RFID in the form of 2 c-3 orseparate wearable 16.) As prior discussed, when an electronic ticket 2 cis used, the ticket should be received with a ticket status in closerange data 2 c-2 set to “ISSUED” (or some equivalent) that is readableand verifiable using for example NFC.

Well not mandatory for many of the present invention's novel and usefulfunctions, in the case where extended range data is included, the cellphone and venue app 2 a also scans the tracking number, e.g. printed onthe paper ticket 2 b as another bar code or embedded in the electronicticket close range data 2 c-1, for storage in the internal ticket listin association with the ticket number. As will be well understood bythose familiar with ticketing systems, many venues do not use a ticketnumber verification system and as such this “ticket verifies?” check isoptional and should be considered as exemplary of the present invention,and not as a limitation.

Still referring to FIG. 10, in this more stringent implementation of thepresent invention as compared to the teachings related to FIGS. 2 and 3,after a ticket number has been added to the internal list at some pointin time preferably prior to entering ZONE2 72 and ZONE3 73, butmandatory before entering ZONE4 74, the guest 1 must enter at least: 1)a facial image, and optionally enters: 2) a finger print, and 3) a name.As will be well understood by those familiar with mobile applicationdevelopment, the venue app 2 a can control all of the functions on thecell phone associated with 2 a, including the camera, finger sensor,GPS, wi-fi settings, Bluetooth settings, etc. In this step, it ispreferred that one or more images of the guest 1 (who may or may not bethe purchaser) are captured, stored and converted into meta-data. Aftercapturing the one or more facial images, the venue app 2 a also checksto see if these images are a match for any of the images captured inassociation with any other ticket numbers already added to this cellphone and venue app 2 a's internal ticket list. As the careful readerwill understand, if a purchaser/guest 1 is managing for example four (4)tickets with the same cell phone and venue app 2 a, then each ticketwill require a distinct facial image (i.e. a different guest 1.) As willalso be understood by those skilled in the art of security systems, itis also helpful (but not mandatory) to have fingerprint associated witheach ticket that is preferably entered at this time and also must beunique.

Still referring to FIG. 10, after venue app 2 a captures images andoptionally fingerprints of an optionally named guest 1, this sameinformation is then converted into “biometric meta-data.” As is wellknown in the art of facial recognition, a facial image is convertibleinto a set of image features with dimensions and landmarks, withdistances between these landmarks. This information tends to be smallerin size for wireless transmission and more readily comparable between adatabase of similar information than comparing the original facial imagedata. However, the original facial image data often includes otherfeatures including blemishes and wrinkles that are typically notprocessed in facial algorithms, but are very noticeable to human facialevaluators. Like with fingerprints, the print image is convertible intowhat are typically referred to as minutiae, or the major features suchas: a delta, a spur, a ridge ending, etc. While then encoding of theminutiae represents significantly less information than the finger printimage which is useful when transmitting data wireless over a networkconnection, having the finger print image is valuable as it provides fora more accurate comparison for human evaluation. The present inventorprefers that all stored biometric data is encrypted using the hidden appID to ensure guest 1 privacy. As will be well understood by thosefamiliar with security systems, the use of meta-data is optional andshould be considered as exemplary of the present invention, and not as alimitation.

Still referring to FIG. 10, venue app 2 a preferably accepts “guestanalytics info” from guest 1 including any information for helping to atleast understand guest 1 preferences and movements within the venue,such as a theme park. As those familiar with data analytics willunderstand, using the example of a theme park, it can be very beneficialto compare the guest analytics datum in light of the captured guest 1tracking data as herein described, especially including visits torestaurants, theaters, shops, individual rides, etc., of which there aremany possible analyses. Preferred guest analytic datum is not sufficientfor personal identification and therefore protects guest 1 privacy whilestill providing venues with useful information and includes, but is notlimited to: age, sex, city, state, etc., and can even includeinformation such as: favorite sport, team, tv show, character, etc. Theuse of guest analytic information is optional and should be consideredas exemplary of the present invention, and not as a limitation.

Still referring to FIG. 10, after accepting any of guest analyticsinformation, the venue app 2 a will set the internal status code of thepresent ticket to “REGISTERED.” If the present ticket is an electronicticket 2 c, then guest 1 will be prompted by the venue app 2 a to rescanthe electronic ticket 2 c, at which point the ticket status maintainedin close range data 2 c-2 is reset to “REGISTERED.” The purchaser/guest1 then repeats these steps for each unique ticket, where each uniqueticket must have at least a unique facial image and optionally also aunique finger print, name, biometric meta-data and analytics info. Thiscompletes the alternate preferred operation of the herein disclosedsmart-ticket 2 within ZONE1 71. Once guest 1 has registered all of theirone or more tickets, they may proceed to ZONE2 72, where it is preferredthat this ZONE2 72 physically borders ZONE3 73, where ZONE3 73 thenphysically borders ZONE4 74, the venue itself. One key aspect of thepresent invention to note is that the venue app of device 2 a preferablyuses it internal GPS functionality to determine that the cell phone andvenue app 2 a, and therefore also the guest 1, is within any givenZONE1, 2, 3 and 4. In so doing, the venue app 2 a provides differentfunctionality to match the processing requirements of each respectiveZONE. ZONE1 is essentially anywhere but the venue and its confirmationarea ZONE3, where ZONE2 is preferred to be a small area outside of ZONE3where the guest 1 “rescans ticket(s).” As prior mentioned, while thisstep is not mandatory, it ensures that a guest 1, who can otherwise passdirectly into ZONE3 73 through an access point 5 a-1 by scanning a paper2 b or electronic ticket 2 c, first ensures that they are prepared forthe confirmation process to take place within ZONE3 73, where beingprepared includes: 1) having the cell phone and venue app 2 a availablethat registered each of the ticket(s) that the guest 1 intends tocurrently use, and 2) making sure that each of these ticket(s) hasalready been registered.

While it is technically possible to perform the one-time registrationstep within ZONE3, by instead requiring that it is completed beforeZONE3, the preferred operation limits the crowd size within ZONE3 butfirst limiting the amount of inputting that is necessary within ZONE3using device 2 a (i.e. only ticket confirmation and not also ticketregistration.) As will be well appreciated by those familiar with venuemanagement and from a careful reading of the present invention, reducingcrowd build up in ZONE3 73 is useful as the goal of ZONE3 is to speed upthe process of guest 1 access into the venue 74. Again, it is noted thatthe venue app 2 a automatically detects that device 2 a and thereforethe guest 1 are physically located within ZONE2 72 and not ZONE1 71, andonce so detected the venue app 2 a then prompts the guest 1 to rescantheir ticket(s) and otherwise will not allow the guest 1 to rescan theirticket(s) for the purpose of setting their status to “ENABLED,” alsomeaning that the guest 1 is forced to perform all of the registrationsteps within ZONE1. After confirming that guest 1 and device 2 a arewithin ZONE2 and prompting guest 1 to rescan a ticket, once rescannedthe venue app 2 a will set the internal status code of the ticket to“ENABLED.” If the present ticket is an electronic ticket 2 c, duringrescanning the venue app 2 a will also reset the ticket statusmaintained in close range data 2 c-2 to “ENABLED.” The guest 1 will thenbe prompted to rescan all of the tickets on the internal ticket list,and any that are not scanned cannot then be used to pass through accesspoint 5 a-1, as will be appreciated by a careful reading of the presentinvention. This completes the alternate preferred operation of theherein disclosed smart-ticket 2 within ZONE2 72.

Still referring to FIG. 10, guest 1 using a single ticket 2 b, 2 c orthe combination thereof, passes through unmanned access point 5 a-1 byscanning their single ticket. If the guest 1 was managing multipleticket(s) using their cell phone and venue app 2 a, it is presumed thatthere is one or more other guest 1's each using a single ticket, of oneor more other tickets, to then also pass through access point 5 a-1 intoZONE3 73. As each electronic ticket 2 c is scanned, although notmandatory, it is preferred that the close-range data 2 c-2 to “ENABLED.”As prior mentioned, ZONE3 73 is a confined area, such that once passingthrough one of the one or more access points 5 a-1, the only reasonableway for a guest 1 to leave ZONE3 73 is through either one or more exitaccess points 5 a-2, or one or more access points 5 a-3 leading intoZONE4 74, the venue. Also, as prior mentioned, the present inventorprefers that within the physically constrained ZONE3, the venue app 2 adetects when a guest has proceeded away from entry points 5 a-1 byperhaps 50 feet bringing them closer to the ZONE4 access points 5 a-3.Again, this is possible because venue app 2 a is using its GPS or asuitable LPS to determine the location of device 2 a and therefore theguest 1. As will be understood by those familiar with crowd management,once entering ZONE3 guests 1 will begin to think about the next step ofconfirmation and to possibly slow down causing congestion around accesspoints 5 a-3, and therefore it is preferred that the venue app 2 aessentially direct them forward a sufficient distance, where the presentinventor anticipates that this functionality can be variable, where itis even possible that there are several demarcated “confirming areas”and the venue app 2 a in conjunction with the venue's system monitorsZONE3 traffic and intelligently directs each guest 1 just entering ZONE3to a particular demarcated sub-portion of ZONE3, not just for example 50feet into ZONE3.

Still referring to FIG. 10, regardless of where a guest is within ZONE3,as some location within ZONE3 it is necessary that the guest 1 berequired by the venue app 2 a to confirm their ticket(s), a preferablyprompted process that begins with “rescanning a ticket to beginconfirmation.” After a ticket is scanned by device 2 a, the associatedguest 1 will be prompted by venue app 2 a to capture another one or morefacial images, and optionally even a body image providing furtherfeatures for differentiation and identification as will be wellunderstood by those familiar with facial recognition, pattern matchingand security systems. If the guest 1 entered a fingerprint during ZONE1registration, then the guest 1 will also be prompted to scan their samefinger as used for this prior registration in ZONE1. After venue app 2 ascans at least the facial images and possible an upper torso/head imageand/or a finger print, venue app 2 a will first run internal processingto ensure that this information (e.g. after converting to biometricmeta-data) sufficiently “matches the registration” information enteredfor the present ticket within ZONE1. If the any of the scanned guest 1information does not match, the guest 1 has two options: 1) try again,or 2) go to guest services.

Assuming that the scan is completed successfully and matches theregistration scans, this confirmation biometric data is automatically“uploaded with ticket no. to the venue” by the venue app 2 a to thevenue access management system, preferably via a secured wireless link.In an alternative embodiment, the present inventor prefers for the sakeof guest 1's privacy, although it is not mandatory, that this guest 1biometric data is maintained in a database that has no database linkageto any other guest information such as ticket number, name, purchaserinfo, app id, tracking etc., as will be well understood by thosefamiliar with database systems. Essentially, this biometric informationbecomes an isolated dataset simply used to record which guests 1 havealready been confirmed for access into ZONE4 and otherwise has no use orassociation to a guest 1, including time of entry, current location,name, associated guests 1, etc. However, it is also desirable toassociate this biometric data with the guest 1's tracking number andguardian ID/contact information, so as to provide the additional lost ormissing guest functionality as prior described, where each guest 1 isbeing tracked by the system, and if a guest 1 such as a child isphoto-graphed as possibly missing by a venue staff or another guest, theisolated biometric dataset can be searched to recall the guardianID/contact information for communicating with the guardian. As thecareful reader will see, there is a tradeoff in the level of privacy ascompared to the level of venue services, where the options can bepresented as choices to the registering guardians within ZONE1 and wheresome guests 1 can choose to connect additional guardian informationwhile other do not. Regardless, once the biometric metadata is uploadedto the preferably isolated biometric dataset, the venue system will thenperform an automated search of this dataset of guests 1 currently withinZONE4 or already confirmed and cleared to enter ZONE4. If a match isfound, then the venue system preferably sends a “possible match” signalto the venue app 2 a, which then alerts the guest 1 while alsoadditionally causing the venue app 2 a to further upload all of theguest 1's registration biometric data to the venue access managementsystem for further storage and comparison by human evaluators with theprior uploaded confirmation biometric data.

Still referring to FIG. 10, as is well known in the art of facialrecognition, automatic facial recognition algorithms are not perfect andalso are tuned to either optimize FAR (the false acceptance rate where anon-authorized guest 1 is allowed access to the venue) or FRR (the falserecognition rate where an authorized guest 1 is denied access to thevenue.) It is also well known in the art that a combination of automaticalgorithms and human evaluation currently provides the highest accuracythat exceeds algorithms alone and human evaluation alone. The presentinvention provides the novel benefit of first using more stringentalgorithms for examining the biometric metadata and then identifyingthose cases where the automatic algorithms come up with a potentialguest 1 match, thus conversely ensuring that if no match is found thenthe likelihood of false acceptance is greatly reduced if not fullyeliminated. In this process, a guest 1 potential match means that theguest 1 now trying to have their ticket confirmed appears to the venue'saccess management system to either already be in the venue and/oralready be confirmed for entrance from ZONE3 into ZONE4 (the venue.) Inthis potential match situation, the venue access management systemthen: 1) automatically causes all biometric and associated data, forboth the guest 1 now seeking confirmation, as well as any one or morepossible matches found for the guest 1 within the preferably isolatedbiometric dataset, to be presented to a venue service agent at acomputing device for further human evaluation, and 2) allowing the humanevaluator to easily and quickly compare the current guest 1 biometricand any associated data with the biometric and any associated data ofany possible matches, where the agent either accepts or rejectsconfirmation. The present inventor notes that this agent may be situatedanywhere and does not need to be physically located near ZONE3.

Still referring to FIG. 10, the human agent becomes the final arbiter ofdetermining if the guest 1 biometric data is “all unique?” with respectto the guests 1 already in the venue or confirmed to enter the venue. Ifthe agent rejects the guest 1's request for confirmation, a message iscommunicated back to the venue app 2 a directing the guest 1 to proceedto guest services, whereas if the agent accepts the guest 1's requestfor confirmation, a message is communicated back to the venue app 2 athat the ticket has “received venue clearance.” After confirming thatthe guest 1 present in ZONE3 is both the same as the registered guest 1and also not already confirmed, the venue app 2 a will set the internalstatus code of the ticket to “CONFIRMED.” If the present ticket is anelectronic ticket 2 c, during rescanning the venue app 2 a will alsoreset the ticket status maintained in close range data 2 c-2 to“CONFIRMED.” The guest 1 will then be prompted to repeat the process forany other tickets on the internal ticket list that have a current statusof “ENABLED.” This completes the alternate preferred operation of theherein disclosed smart-ticket 2 within ZONE3 73. Once a smart ticket 2is confirmed, the guest 1 may then proceed through any of one or moreaccess points 5 a-3 to gain access into ZONE4 74, wherein the accesspoint 5 a-3 resets the status on an electronic ticket to “ACTIVE.”

Still referring to FIG. 10, those familiar with facial recognitionsystems will understand that this two-step approach to venue accessconfirmation, wherein step 1 automatic algorithms stringently processbiometric metadata to perform guest 1 confirmation for entry into thevenue, and only upon detecting potential matches to already confirmedother guests 1 does the system execute step 2 of human evaluation, wherethe human evaluators are isolated and serve the queue of all guestsseeking confirmation, provides a unique combination of: 1) maximumsecurity using both algorithms and human evaluation, 2) maximum guest 1privacy, 3) maximum throughput of guest 1 via self-serve access to thevenue, 4) minimal staffing by the pooling of human evaluators to servicethe queue of all guests, and 5) minimal staffing by using unmannedaccess points 5 a-1, 5 a-2 and 5 a-3. As prior stated, the venue accessalgorithms for performing the first algorithmic face match to determineif a guest 1 requesting confirmation has already been confirmed can nowhave thresholds altered to favor FRR over FAR, essentially requiring ahigher degree of matching facial features, landmarks, etc. and thusreducing false acceptance (FAR) and thereby increasing security. Thepresent system then efficiently presents this greater number ofpotential matches to awaiting agents who then can quickly make a humanevaluation to accept or reject, where the combined process serves togreatly increase security while still permitting a greater overall flowof guests 1 through ZONE3 simply because all of access points 5 a-3 areunmanned. The present inventor further anticipates that when a guest 1is rejected by an agent, their entire “case” of pertinent information ismade immediately available to ZONE3 guest services, such that therejected guest 1 may then go to guest services and prove their identityto gain venue access. As the careful reader will see, and as will beclear to those familiar with information systems, many of the sub-stepsmentioned herein, and especially as detailed with respect to FIG. 10 canbe altered, re-ordered, skipped, enhanced, etc. without departing fromthe scope of the present invention. Furthermore, status codes such as“ISSUED,” “REGISTERED,” “ENABLED,” “LIVE,” “CONFIRMED,” and “ACTIVE” areexemplary, as alternative encodes are obvious are sufficient, andtherefore the teachings herein are to be considered as exemplary, ratherthan limitations of the present invention.

CONCLUSION AND RAMIFICATIONS

Thus the reader will see that the present invention accomplishes itsobjective of teaching the apparatus and methods for: 1) supporting aphysical-virtual park gaming experience based at least in part uponinformation generated by a real-time guest tracking system, where theguest tracking determines the location of guests within any number ofpark-interaction points especially including a ride car seat on any of aguided, free-floating or free-ranging ride; 2) providing novel solutionsfor transparently tracking multiple guests as they enter and exit thepark-interaction points including individual ride car seats, and 3)providing a system for allowing unmanned and secure venue and sub-venueaccess control.

The present invention and its associated parent patent teach acomprehensive system capable of embedding a virtualized gamingexperience into the unique physical assets of a theme park, where aphysical/virtual gaming experience at least includes: 1) thepresentation of video/audio including the animation of characters thatare automatically responsive at least in part to datum known by thesystem about a guest, where the datum at least includes any of the guesttracking datum or guest related information such as name, namepronunciation, or facial image associated with their ticket numberand/or tracking number, and the animation is preferably at least at somemoments a secret message or video than can only be perceived by guestswearing special park glasses, where those guests not wearing glasses seesome other public message and are therefore unaware of the secretmessage, and where the animation is further responsive to the currentlyknown game status of a particular guest, where game status includes anyof a skill or achievement level, accumulated points, time spent orremaining in a game level, etc., 2) the controllable actuation of venueeffects that are automatically responsive at least in part to datumknown by the system about a guest, where the datum at least includes anyof the guest tracking datum or guest related information associated withtheir ticket number and/or tracking number, where the venue effectsprovide output perceivable by the guest including any one of, or anycombination of light, sound, water, air, vibration, etc., whereactuation includes any one of, or any combination of increasing ordecreasing a particular output, redirecting the projection of aparticular output, or otherwise effecting the output to cause aperception or experience for a guest participating in the park-widegame, 3) accepting input from a guest that is used at least in part by acontrollable venue affect to further actuate the effect, where acceptingan input includes: a) providing a button where the guest then pressesthe button to alter the effect, where the button is further illuminatedto indicate to the guest that pressing the illuminated button will causean effect, where a process automatically determines to and does causethe button to be illuminated based at least in part upon guestinformation related to their: i) their ticket, ii) tracking datum, oriii) gaming status, or b) providing a object tracking system fordetermining, tracking and interpreting the movements of an article by aguest, such as a wizard's wand taught both in the prior art and in thebase application, where the interpreted movements or article gesturesare used at least in part by a controllable venue affect to furtheractuate the effect, and 4) automatically photographing or videoing aguest at a moment or moments at least in part corresponding to thetiming of any one of, or any combination of: a) the animation ofcharacters as herein described, or b) the controllable actuation ofvenue effects, with or without consideration of guest input, as hereindescribed.

The present invention further teaches a comprehensive system of allowingone or more guests to purchase a ticket, register and lock the ticket totheir personal biometric information, confirm themselves as to matchingthe biometrics registered to the locked ticket at a spatial point justprior in time to entering a venue or sub-venue, and then be eitherdenied or gain admittance to the venue without the assistance of a venuestaff member. This aspect of the present invention furtheraccomplishes: 1) providing ticket authentication for counterfeitdetection, 2) providing ticket number encryption for preventing tickettheft, 3) providing at least two levels of unmanned secure ticketconfirmation, where the highest confirmation provides at least thecombination of stringent algorithms for first comparing biometric datumfor confirmation or denial of a guest entrance request, where thestringent algorithms favor lowering the false acceptance rate, and wheredenied guests are then subject to a second human evaluation of thebiometric datum for comparing for either confirmation or denial of theguest entrance request, 4) providing guests with the ability to manageone or more tickets and associated guest biometric information throughtheir own mobile device such as a cell phone running a venue app, wherethe biometric information is minimally shared with a venue accesscontrol system, where minimally shared includes allowing the guest tochoose the level of association between their biometric informationprovided to the venue and the ticket related information also known tothe venue, where the guest uses their own personal mobile device toenter biometric information and is not required to share a commonbiometric entry device that is shared by multiple other guests unknownto the guest, and 5) providing guests with the ability to form groupsacross one or more tickets, across one or more mobile devices each witha venue app, such that the combination of all grouped tickets may beassigned one or more guardians, where the guardians use their cell phoneand mobile app to receive and review any and all tracking datumcurrently known to the venue tracking system regarding any associatedguests in the group, where tracking datum includes current guestlocation as well as entrance and exit times with respect to individualpark-interaction locations, where park-interaction locations includeindividual ride seats on a ride, where guardians may see images capturedor continuously captured video by any one or more cameras adapted to thepark-interaction locations including a ride car for currently viewingany guest in the group, where the guardians may alert the venue systemsif a guest in the group is missing, where the alert includes at least aphoto of the missing guest and guardian contact information, where avenue staff or another guest unrelated to the group can take a pictureusing a cell phone with the venue app where the picture is transmittedto the venue system for facial recognition and guest matching such thatthe guardian(s) associated with a matched missing guest are immediatelycontacted and provided with all available relevant information, andwhere the venue tracking system automatically notifies either or boththe guardian(s) or venue staff if a non-guardian guest in a guardedgroup is detected as entering or exiting a park-interaction location atsome amount of time before any of the guardians.

The present invention further teaches a spot tracking and photo systemthat: 1) coordinates with at least the guest tracking information andthe venue effects to capture photos or videos timed with the guestexperiences including any interactions within park-interaction locationsincluding seats on guided, free-floating or free-ranging rides, 2)provides inputs for a guest to initiate their own self-photo or videoespecially on any guided, free-floating or free-ranging rides, 3) allowsa guest to review and purchase captured photos and videos at least usingtheir cell phone and venue app, where review includes electronicallytransferring a proof-photo to the guest's cell phone for viewing withinthe venue app, where the guest is automatically notified of transfer bythe venue app, where the notification is timed to a detected guestmovement such as through a chokepoint situated at a ride exit or shopentrance, where the guest can accept or reject the proof images, whereaccepting means any one of, or any combination of: a) storage in a venuemaintained photo and video database, b) immediate printing as a physicalphoto to be acquired by the guest, or c) conversion into a saved photolocation on the guest's cell phone, where rejecting means that the proofon the guests cell phone is deleted and optionally that any copy of thephoto in the venue maintained photo and video database is deleted, 4)allows the guest to pre-establish a payment method, or make apre-payment, for the photo services provided by the venue, where thepayment method or pre-payment are known to the system and used to enableinputs used by a guest to initiate their own self-photo, and 5) allowsthe guest to establish social media accounts, links and other necessaryinformation such that the venue photo system will automatically postphotos and videos based upon this information and any other limitsprovided by the guest, where a limit includes only posting photos aftera guest's approval or rejection.

As a careful reader will see, the present invention and the baseapplication provide many apparatus and methods, some of which are noveland useful by themselves or in various combinations, as will be obviousto those skilled in the various arts. Those skilled in the various artherein described will also understand that newer implementation oftechnology will become available for providing the same functions asherein described for any given apparatus. As such, the present inventionand all of its preferred and alternative embodiments should beconsidered both as apparatus and as functions that are exemplary and notlimitations of the present invention. Furthermore, the present inventionhas uses well beyond theme and amusement parks including: museums,sporting and music venues, convention centers, air ports and even secureoffice buildings.

While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications and changes will occur to thoseskilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appendedclaims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fallwithin the true spirit of the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for allowing a person to gainself-verified and private access to a premises, comprising: a mobilecomputing device for executing an app including premises access controlfunctions, where the mobile app is capable of determining that themobile device and app's current location is a) substantially within arestricted geographic area of the premises, b) substantially within aconfirmation zone for gaining access to the restricted area (a), and c)neither of (a) nor (b), where the perimeter of the confirmation zone (b)is substantially bounded to restrict and control entry by the personinto the confirmation zone (b) and exit by the person out of theconfirmation zone (b), where the confirmation zone (b) can only bereasonably entered from (c) through at least one first access point notleading from (a) and the confirmation zone (b) can only be reasonablyexited through at least one second access point leading into (a) orthrough at least one third access point not leading into (a), where thefirst, second, and third access points provide information for updatinga current status associated with data indicative of rights-to-access thepremises, and wherein the person uses the app to: 1) receive and storethe data indicative of rights-to-access the premises or a restrictedarea of the premises at a future time; 2) input at least one personalregistration biometric of at least one biometric type, where the apprestricts input of the personal registration biometric to occur within(c), where the app stores the at least one personal registrationbiometric in association with the rights-to-access data, and where theapp does not share the personal registration biometric with the premisesor with any of the first, second, or third access points; 3) input a newpersonal confirmation biometric of the at least one biometric type,where the app restricts input of the new personal confirmation biometricto occur within (b) for each new entrance of the person through the atleast one first access point from (c) into (b) prior to entering (a)from (b) through the at least one second access point, where the appcompares the new confirmation biometric to the registration biometric ofthe same biometric type in order to determine if the biometrics areindicative of an identity match, where the app does not share thepersonal confirmation biometric with the premises or with any of thefirst, second, or third access points, and 4) gain access to thepremises (a) from the confirmation zone (b) through the at least onesecond access point, where access to the premises (a) is only allowed ifthe rights-to-access data are appropriate and the new confirmationbiometric has been verified by the app to be indicative of an identitymatch to the registration biometric of the same biometric type.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1 further comprising: a secondary device includingelectronically detectable premises access data, where the premisesaccess data at least includes rights data based at least in part uponthe rights-to-access data from use (1), and confirmation data based asleast in part upon the identity match data from use (3), and where theperson uses the secondary device rather than the mobile device executingthe app to gain self-access to the premises (a) from the confirmationzone (b).
 3. The system of claim 2 where the secondary device is anelectronic ticket comprising printed electronics for wirelesslycommunicating with the mobile device and for storing the premises accessdata, and where the mobile device electronically communicates thepremises access data to the secondary device.
 4. The system of claim 2further adapted to track the person's movements within the accessedpremises (a), wherein the secondary device further comprises extendedrange readable tracking data, further comprising: one or more wirelessreaders located within the premises (a) for detecting the proximity ofthe secondary device, for reading any of the tracking data, and forproviding person tracking data to a tracking database associated withthe premises (a), where the person tracking data at least in partcomprises any one of or any combination of the tracking data, a locationwhere the secondary device was detected, and a time when the secondarydevice was detected.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the extended rangereadable tracking data is optionally comprised within a wearable to beworn by the person.
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the person isdirected, prompted, or otherwise influenced to direct the person'smovements towards a specified location within the premises (a) based atleast in part upon any one of or any combination of 1) the informationobtained by the app, 2) the information obtained by communication withthe secondary device or the wearable, or 3) the information comprisedwithin the tracking database associated with the premises (a).
 7. Thesystem of claim 5 where apparatus or methods associated with theprovision of experiences to the person while within the premises (a) areprovided combined person data, where the apparatus or methods alter atleast one feature of an experience currently being or to be provided tothe person based at least in part upon any of the combined person data,and where the combined person data includes any one of or anycombination of: 1) the information obtained by the app, 2) theinformation obtained by communication with the secondary device or thewearable, or 3) the information comprised within the tracking databaseassociated with the premises (a).
 8. The system of claim 2 whereapparatus or methods associated with the provision of experiences to theperson while within the premises (a) are provided combined person data,where the apparatus or methods alter at least one feature of anexperience currently being or to be provided to the person based atleast in part upon any of the combined person data, and where thecombined person data includes any one of or any combination of: 1) theinformation obtained by the app, and 2) the information obtained bycommunication with the secondary device.
 9. The system of claim 8wherein the experiences are a part of an on-going game comprisingon-going game data and content, and where the combined person datafurther includes 3) any of the game data and content.
 10. The system ofclaim 9 wherein the provided experience in relation to the on-going gameincludes a secret message substantially restricted to being receivedonly by the person, and where the secret message comprises any one of orany combination of video, audio, or textual information.
 11. The systemof claim 1 where the rights-to-access data have not yet been used by theperson to gain access to the premises (a), wherein: any of the app uses(1) for receiving the rights-to-access data, or (2) for registering theat least one biometric for association with the rights-to-access data,are optionally performed either within (c) or (b), and wherein after theperson enters the premises (a) from the confirmation zone (b) using theregistered rights-to-access data the registration step can no longer beperformed such that the used registered rights-to-access data areeffectively locked to the registered person.
 12. A method for allowing aperson to gain self-verified access to a premises by sequentiallypassing through a first and a second premises access point withoutrequiring the person to divulge any of personal data including biometricdata to the premises or the first or second access point, comprising thesteps of: 1) providing a premises self-access app for use by the personon a mobile computing device available to the person, where the app iscapable of determining a current geographic location; 2) providing tothe app, determining by the app, or otherwise including with the appaccess control data, where the access control data at least includes onebiometric type considered sufficient for confirming the person'sidentity; 3) requiring that the person use the app to provide initialpersonal registration data to the app prior to first entering thepremises through the second access point and at a current geographiclocation determined at least in part by the app to be outside of thepremises, where the initial personal registration data includes at leastone registration biometric of the person, where the at least oneregistration biometric is of a type matching the at least one biometrictype, and where the personal registration data is not shared by the appwith the premises or the first or second access point; 4) requiring thatthe person use the app after passing through the first access point intoa confirmation area to provide subsequent personal confirmation data tothe app prior to entering the premises through the second access point,where the subsequent personal confirmation data includes a at least oneconfirmation biometric of the person, where the at least oneconfirmation biometric is of a type matching the type of the at leastone initial registration biometric, and where the subsequent personalconfirmation data is not shared by the app with the premises or thefirst or second access point; 5) using the app while the person remainswithin the confirmation area to compare the at least one confirmationbiometric to the at least one registration biometric of the samebiometric type in order to determine an indication of identity match foruse as access control data, and 6) using the app to provide the accesscontrol data to the second access point at least including or based uponthe determined indication of identity match, where the provided accesscontrol data does not include any of the personal information includingthe biometric data, and where if the indication is affirmative thesecond access point permits the person to enter the premises and if theindication is not affirmative the second access point does not permitthe person to enter the premises.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein anyof the access control data is optionally provided by the app to asecondary device, and wherein the secondary device provides any of theaccess control data to either or both of the first and second accesspoints such that it is not necessary the that the app communicates witheither or both of the first and second access points, where thesecondary device is any active or passive device capable ofelectronically receiving the access control data from the app andelectronically or otherwise providing the access control data to theeither or both the first and second access points, and where anelectronic ticket comprising printed electronics is usable as thesecondary device.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the person's accessto the premises is optionally restricted to require rights-to-accessdata obtained prior to attempting to access the premises, wherein: step(3) further requires that the person use the app prior to first enteringthe premises through the second access point to acquire or otherwisereceive data describing and conferring rights-to-access the premises,where the rights-to-access data comprises information defining orsubstantially translatable to any one of or any combination of a uniqueidentifier, dates and times the person is permitted to access thepremises, a number of distinct dates and times the person is permittedto access the premises, and otherwise any information associated with apremises entrance ticket; step (3) further associates the at least oneregistration biometric with the rights-to-access data, and the accesscontrol data provided to the second access point further includes anyof, or any indication or confirmation of, the rights-to-access dataassociated with the at least one registered biometric of the person, andthe second access point permits the person to enter the premises if theprovided rights-to-access data are considered valid and if thedetermined indication of identity match is affirmative, and otherwisethe second access point does not permit the person to enter thepremises.
 15. The method of claim 14 where the secondary device is usedat least in part to collect tracking data about the person forassociation with a guest tracking identifier, wherein the secondarydevice is further adapted to comprise electronically readable data,further comprising the steps of: placing one or more wireless readers atvarious locations throughout the premises, where the wireless readersare capable of detecting the presence of the secondary device andreading any of the electronically readable data off the secondarydevice, and logging in a person tracking database tracking data inassociation with the guest tracking identifier, where tracking dataincludes any one of or any combination of the electronically readabledata, a location where the secondary device was detected, and a timewhen the secondary device was detected.
 16. The method of claim 15wherein the person's experiences at a premises are altered based uponperson data, where the person data comprises any one of or anycombination of a) any of the data maintained by the self-access app, b)any of the data maintained by the secondary device, and c) any of thetracking data, further including the step of: providing apparatus andmethods comprising any one of or any combination of apparatus, premisesemployees, or other experience and service providers, where theapparatus and methods receives or has access to the person data, andwhere the apparatus and methods alter at least on feature of anexperience being provided to or to be provided to the person based atleast in part upon any of the person data.
 17. A system for allowing aperson to gain self-verified access to a premises by passing through asuccession of first and second access points without requiring theperson to divulge any of personal data including biometric data to thepremises or the first and second access points and without requiringthat the person come into physical contact with, or remotely interactwith, a premises access control device for confirming the person'sidentity, comprising: personal means for allowing the person toself-conduct a validation process conforming to premises rulespreestablished for validly entering the premises, where the premisesrules cause the personal means to 1) restrict any one or more steps inthe validation process to physically occur within a confirmation areadefined or otherwise inferred in the premises rules, where the perimeterof the confirmation area is substantially bounded to restrict andcontrol entry by the person into the confirmation area and exit by theperson out of the confirmation area, where the confirmation area canonly be reasonably entered from outside of the confirmation area throughthe first access point not leading from the premises and theconfirmation area can only be reasonably exited from inside theconfirmation area through the second access point leading into thepremises or through a third access point not leading into the premises,where the first, second, and third access points provide information forupdating a current status associated with the validation process, andpremises access means comprising the first, second, and third accesspoints for interacting with the personal means to ensure that theself-conducted validation process was sufficiently conducted inaccordance with the premises rules, where the premises access meanspermits the person to enter the premises if the validation process wassufficiently conducted and otherwise does not permit the person to enterthe premises, and where the personal means does not provide any personaldata including biometric data with the premises access means.
 18. Thesystem of claim 17 wherein the personal means comprise a mobilecomputing device for executing an app comprising or otherwise conformingto the premises rules, where the premises rules for controlling thevalidation process further require that the person to use the personalmeans to: 2) acquire or otherwise receive data indicative ofrights-to-access the premises prior to self-conducting the validationprocess; 3) gain access to the premises from the confirmation areacomprising the second access point leading from the confirmation areainto the premises; 4) register the data indicative of rights-to-accessthe premises to the person by providing one or more personalregistration biometrics prior to using the rights-to-access data to gaina first entrance into the premises, and 5) confirm the person's identityafter entering the confirmation area, where confirmation at leastincludes providing a personal confirmation biometric that sufficientlymatches the prior entered registration biometric.
 19. The system ofclaim 17 wherein the personal means are further adapted to providevalidation process data to a secondary device and wherein the premisesaccess means are further adapted to interact with the secondary deviceto ensure that the self-conducted validation process was sufficientlyconducted and thereby grant to the person access to the premises. 20.The system of claim 19 wherein the secondary device is further adaptedto comprise electronically readable tracking data, further comprising:person tracking means for detecting the proximity of the secondarydevice and for determining any of the tracking data included on thesecondary device, where the person tracking means updates a trackingdatabase comprising any one of or any combination of the tracking data,a location where the secondary device was detected, and a time when thesecondary device was detected, and personal experience providing meansfor causing or otherwise influencing a personal experience for theperson while at the premises, where the personal experience providingmeans receives or has access to person data, where the person data isany data obtained from any one of or any combination of the personalmeans, the secondary means or the tracking database, and where thepersonal experience providing means performs any one of or anycombination of: 1) altering at least one feature of the experience beingprovided to or to be provided to the person based at least in part uponany of the person data, or 2) communicating with or otherwiseinfluencing the person to direct the person to a specific personalexperience providing means based at least in part upon any of the persondata.